Liam Delap set for Monday medical ahead of £30m Chelsea transfer
Chelsea are planning for Liam Delap to undergo his medical on Monday ahead of a proposed £30million ($40m) transfer from Ipswich Town.
As reported by The Athletic on Thursday, Chelsea met the release clause in Delap's contract, which became active upon Ipswich's relegation from the Premier League, with the striker's preference to move to Stamford Bridge. The Athletic reported that sources at teams including Manchester United, Newcastle United, Everton, Nottingham Forest, AC Milan and Juventus had been informed the striker was heading elsewhere.
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The England Under-21 international had multiple suitors after scoring 12 goals in 40 matches for Ipswich in his first season at the club following a £20m move from Manchester City last summer.
Delap spent the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons across Championship loan spells at Stoke City, Preston North End, and Hull City, scoring 12 times across 70 matches. He made just six first-team appearances for Manchester City before departing the club in July last year.
Chelsea had been keen to resolve their transfer business early in the transfer window in order to go into pre-season with a settled squad and to maximise the preparation time ahead of Enzo Maresca's second season.
Recruiting a striker and right-footed winger was a priority for the club this summer. As reported by The Athletic, Chelsea have also held interest in Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike and RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko.
A 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on the final day of the 2024-25 Premier League campaign secured Chelsea a fourth-placed finish and a return to the Champions League for the first time since 2022-23. Enzo Maresca finished his debut campaign in the Chelsea dugout with a Conference League trophy, after beating Real Betis 4-1 in the final on Wednesday.
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