Delap wants to stay at Chelsea and fight despite intense competition for his position | OneFootball

Chelsea striker Liam Delap is determined to remain at Stamford Bridge and fight for his long-term future, according to The Telegraph.

Despite mounting competition in the Chelsea forward line and uncertainty over the next permanent head coach, he wants to fight it out for his place.

The 23-year-old has endured a difficult first season at SW6 following his £30 million move over the summer.

An injury sustained in August sidelined him for two months, disrupting his early momentum, and he has since managed just one Premier League goal for Chelsea.

Nevertheless, Delap is understood to retain belief in his ability to succeed in west London and is focused on finishing the campaign strongly before returning for pre-season.

Chelsea will further reshuffle their attacking options this summer.

Joao Pedro has impressed, underlining his value with 19 goals across all competitions and a standout display in the FA Cup semi-final win over Leeds United.

Marc Guiu remains part of the squad, while Emmanuel Emegha is due to arrive from Strasbourg.

Meanwhile, Nicolas Jackson will return from Bayern Munich after the Bundesliga club opted against making his loan move permanent.

Interim boss Calum McFarlane seems to favour Pedro, leaving Delap with limited opportunities.

However, with five years remaining on his contract, the England youth international is not considering an exit and is instead intent on proving his worth.

That said, a temporary move could ultimately serve both player and club.

A loan to sister side Strasbourg would offer Delap consistent minutes in a competitive European league, away from the intense scrutiny of the Premier League.

It would also allow Chelsea to monitor his development closely within their multi-club structure.

For a player still regaining rhythm and confidence, Strasbourg could provide the ideal platform to rediscover form and return to Stamford Bridge better equipped to compete.