Liam Delap expected to leave Chelsea amid Nottingham Forest link and £40m valuation | OneFootball

According to Nottingham Post, Liam Delap is expected to leave Chelsea this summer as the club add to their forward line, with Nottingham Forest among the sides linked.

The 23-year-old joined from Ipswich Town last summer for about £30m after interest from Manchester United and Everton. He endured a tough first season, scoring once in the league and twice in 42 appearances in all competitions.

New head coach Xabi Alonso has brought in veteran striker Danny Welbeck and is expected to approve Delap’s exit, with a valuation of about £40m.

Forest, Everton, Newcastle United and Leeds United have been credited by national media. Oliver Glasner is believed to want a powerful, quick forward to complement Chris Wood, having previously used Jean-Philippe Mateta as a focal point at Crystal Palace and pursued Jorgen Strand Larsen for £48m in early February.

The Yorkshire Evening Post reports that Leeds sources do not intend to move for Delap despite outside suggestions, while Football Insider claims initial enquiries have been made.

Newcastle are in flux after Eddie Howe ended his five-year reign on Thursday, with preferred successor Matthias Jaissle, 38, of Al Ahli in Saudi Arabia yet to be installed. Everton would need a club-record fee to compete, with Gylfi Sigurdsson still their costliest signing at £45m.

Last summer, David Moyes said he had spoken with Delap among several clubs and admitted West Ham were probably behind, though he hoped something might still happen. For Forest, it would be a record signing, surpassing the £37.5m paid for Omari Hutchinson, with funds boosted by Elliot Anderson’s move to Manchester City.

Source: Nottingham Post