How Chelsea wooed Liam Delap thanks to ‘secret agent' who Pep Guardiola first spotted at U15 tournament seven years ago
LIAM DELAP didn't wait long to complete his move to Chelsea - thanks to the influence of some old colleagues.
The striker was on the radar of several Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, but the Blues turned on the charm to woo him to Stamford Bridge.
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Delap, 22, joins Chelsea for £30million after netting 12 goals at relegated Ipswich last season.
But the story of his move to West London begun seven years ago at a tournament named after Kevin De Bruyne.
The Under-15s KDB Cup in Gent, Belgium, sees some of the top youngsters in the world go head-to-head.
It is a scout's dream and top sides send their best talent spotters to the games.
Back in 2018, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola went to the tournament himself and was impressed by a 14-year-old Romeo Lavia.
He joined the club from Anderlecht as soon as he became old enough on the recommendation of the Spaniard.
But just two senior City appearances later he joined Southampton as Lavia became another highly-rated teenager that decided to move on instead of fight superstars for a place in Guardiola's XI.
Lavia spent just a season on the South Coast before Chelsea splashed a reported £53m on him in 2023.
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But during his days at the Etihad, the Belgian midfielder called Delap a team-mate.
Both were in City's star-studded youth set-up and were close pals.
Inside Chelsea's Conference League final celebrations as Moises Caicedo sings karaoke into the night
The Daily Mail report that "agent Lavia", which he has been labelled by fans, helped convince Delap to move to Chelsea.
Though the links to City in this transfer do not stop there.
He was team-mates with Cole Palmer in their youth days.
Meanwhile, Enzo Maresca was assistant to Guardiola and worked with youngsters during his time in Manchester.
The boss already knows Delap well and helped sell the Chelsea project to him.
He reportedly told the striker to envision himself leading the line for the club during their Conference League final win over Real Betis last week.
Additionally, Chelsea's co-director of recruitment and talent Joe Shields was formerly at City.
The transfer chief is said to have a strong relationship with Delap and his family, which helped clinch the deal.
Other reports state that Thomas Tuchel told the player to join Chelsea as playing in the Champions League would boost his chances of an England call-up for next summer's World Cup.
DONE DEAL
The deal is now signed and sealed and Delap can get straight to work as Chelsea look to win the Club World Cup this summer.
Following the move the youngster said: "I understand the stature of this club and can see the trajectory it is on with these players and the head coach.
"It's going to be an incredible place for me to develop, and I hope to achieve amazing things here and help the club win more trophies."
He was also quick to speak of his excitement about reuniting with those familiar faces.
On Maresca, he said: "He is an incredible coach and helped us all develop so much. What we did that season was record-breaking, and what he's gone on to achieve - and what the players in that age group have achieved - is incredible.
"He has a great understanding of the game. He was very detailed in how he approached things with us and while it can be hard at that age to take on so much information, he brought it across in a way we understood and could put into our games.
"I think it's proved in the years since how much it has helped."
On playing alongside Palmer once more he beamed: "Cole is incredible in everything he does. I can't wait to be in front of him again and receive his passes!"
He added about Lavia and Palmer: "We grew up and played some incredible football together. I spoke to them about joining and I am excited to play alongside them again.
"I also know Levi [Colwill] a bit as we faced each other hundreds of times when we were growing up. It's always nice to know people [when you join a new club], and I've spoken to a few of them and asked them for advice.
"They've told me how great a place it is and I'm really excited to come and play alongside them."
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