Danny Welbeck’s arrival at Chelsea has thrown Liam Delap’s Stamford Bridge future into fresh doubt.
Welbeck completed a surprise move from Brighton on Saturday, increasing competition for places up front with the Blues.
And Delap may be one of a number of Chelsea players having to look elsewhere in search of regular football, as talkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs told Shaun Custis and Henry Winter.
Noting how fellow Blues striker Nicolas Jackson has been linked with a move to Aston Villa, Jacobs said: “And I think there’s a fair chance that Liam Delap goes, and there’s certainly historical interest from both Everton and Newcastle and growing Premier League interest more generally.
“And the thing about both Delap and Jackson is that they have to understand are they equal with Welbeck or are they effectively number three and different kind of profiles? Or are they lower down?
“And if they’re lower down, you can say you want to fight for your place, but with only domestic football, they’ll realise very quickly that they have to go.
“So, departures are going to be key there.”
Delap joined Chelsea from Ipswich last summer when the Blues activated his £30million release clause.
And the 23-year-old son of Premier League cult hero Rory Delap went on to make 41 appearances for the Blues in all competitions.
However, he only managed two goals and Chelsea have made further centre forward additions this summer.
As well as Welbeck, the Blues have signed Emmanuel Emegha from Strasbourg – though the Netherlands international could already be on his way out of Stamford Bridge, albeit not permanently.
Delap scored 12 goals in 2024/25, Ipswich’s first campaign back in the top flight, so he has shown he can cut it at this level and that he could be a very handy addition for another club.
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He must also have his international career in mind, having represented England up to under-21 level. Delap has yet to be called up to the Three Lions senior squad, however.
He is also eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland through his ancestry, with his father earning 11 caps for the country.
Chelsea continued their preparations for the new season with a dramatic 2-1 defeat to ten-man Tottenham in Sydney on Saturday.
Delap was involved but only as a late substitute.
The Blues begin the 2026/27 Premier League campaign, under new manager Xabi Alonso, away to local rivals Fulham on August 24.
