OFFICIAL: Chelsea resign striker to cover for injured Liam Delap in “unusual” move | OneFootball

Chelsea have just confirmed the arrival of a striker – one who they know pretty well.

Marc Guiu arrived from Barcelona a year ago, spent a season as backup striker to Nicolas Jackson, and was then pushed down the pecking order by the arrival of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap. Chelsea chose to loan him to Sunderland this season, but Liam Delap’s injury picked up on Saturday changed everything.

Guiu returns to Chelsea to cover for Delap injury

Marc Guiu leads the line for Sunderland. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

In the end, Chelsea decided it was better to let Nicolas Jackson complete his lucrative transfer to Bayern Munich and instead recall Guiu from Sunderland as cover.

“This has been an unusual situation to navigate, and our priority must always be to act in the best interests of Sunderland,” their sporting director Kristjaan Speakman wrote.

“Following discussions with Chelsea, Marc, and his representatives throughout the last 48 hours, we believe we have achieved this outcome and that this decision is in the best interests of all parties. We wish Marc well upon returning to Chelsea, who we continue to enjoy a strong relationship with, and we now move forward.”

Guiu back where he started after weird month

An unusual situation barely covers it! Less than a month after heading to the North East, having made just one start and a couple of appearances off the bench, Guiu is back at Chelsea.

It’s probably best for all parties. Guiu was clearly not going to get much game time up there – he might actually play more at Chelsea in this period while Delap is out than he was going to in Sunderland, ironically.

In January, we can reconsider the situation – and hopefully pick a better loan for Guiu where he is guaranteed to play more.