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Daily Mirror
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Chelsea told new signing 'makes the grade' and could transform the club's hopes
Chelsea have broken the bank once again this summer, but it's one of their cheaper acquisitions that one former Blues captain believes could take the club onto the next level Amid a fresh wave of signings at Stamford Bridge this summer, Liam Delap is the one former Chelsea skipper Gary Cahill is most excited to see in blue. And the player's performances at the FIFA Club World Cup have only raised his expectations. Chelsea have spent around £210million improving their squad this summer, though Delap has been one of their savvier signings. The west Londoners triggered the £30m release clause (only £20m of which was paid up front) in Delap's contract to take him off Ipswich Town's hands in June. The 22-year-old has taken on the Blues' 'cursed' No. 9 jersey and hopes to succeed where the likes of Fernandes Torres, Gonzalo Higuain, Radamel Falcao and Alvaro Morata struggled to do so. And there are promising signs the former Manchester City prospect could be just the man to break the spell. When asked which new signing he's most excited by, Cahill told Mirror Sport (via BetMGM):"Obviously, the big one is Liam Delap. I think there was obviously a need to add a striker. Like everyone in the Premier League, you're looking for goals, aren't you? "I think Cole Palmer 's been the top goalscorer in the last couple of seasons as a No. 10 midfielder. So, they needed some firepower up there, and I really like him." Palmer led Chelsea with 16 goals across all competitions last season, while Christopher Nkunku was just behind on 15, though only three of those came in the Premier League. Nicolas Jackson was Enzo Maresca's go-to option up front and finished with 13 goals from 37 appearances, while Noni Madueke sometimes filled in as a makeshift striker and added another 11 goals from 46 games. Jackson, 24, missed portions of the 2024/25 season through injury and received his second red card of the campaign at the Club World Cup. That unavailability may only enhance Delap's case for selection, especially after impressing with his first goal and assist while helping Chelsea reach the final of the competition. "I've seen him a few times for Ipswich last season," Cahill, who made 290 appearances for Chelsea, continued. "He is an out-and-out No. 9, which I think is a good thing for Chelsea. He works hard, strong, physical, runs in behind, technically decent. So I'm very excited to see how he gets on there. "I think talent-wise, he certainly makes the grade. It'll be interesting to see how he manages that step up into a huge club. No disrespect to Ipswich, I'm talking about an environment, so it'll be interesting to see how he gets on there. But from the clips I've seen of him in the Club World Cup, he looks very exciting. I think that's great business." It's difficult to argue with the logic given Delap was once in contention to make a first-team impact at the Etihad. Manchester United also threw their hat in the ring to sign the player, but the familiar faces of Palmer and Maresca, both of whom he knew from his time at City, helped turn things in Chelsea's favour. As a two-time Premier League winner and Champions League medal-holder, Cahill has played with and against a long list of top-tier talent. And the signs are positive that Delap is the man whom Chelsea have longed for to make the difference in attack. Fellow new arrival Joao Pedro impressed with a magnificent brace during Chelsea's 2-0 Club World Cup win over Fluminense, which Delap missed due to suspension. However, the Englishman will be back in contention to start against Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday's final. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Scottish Sun
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
How Maresca can fit £190m new strikers Delap, Joao Pedro, Gittens and Estevao into his Chelsea team next season
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CHELSEA'S transfer strategy since the take over by Todd Boehly and BlueCo in 2022 has been scattergun to say the least. The new ownership group has installed a clear recruitment plan - buy young players with high potential whatever it costs. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 17 Enzo Maresca has a few problems to solve next season Credit: AFP The burn and churn policy means Chelsea have a lot of players on their books, which gives manager Enzo Maresca a huge headache. TheItalian coach has made it clear he favours a smaller and tighter squad so that players would be able to build understanding and momentum. Yet the logic of having so many top scouts and sporting directors dictates that more and more players will continue to be brought into the club. WATCH EVERY MATCH OF THE CLUB WORLD CUP 2025 LIVE ON DAZN read more in football PALMED OFF Furious Cole Palmer kicks post and stares down Chelsea team-mate for not passing They have already strengthened their forward options since the end of the season with Liam Delap from Ipswich for £30m, Joao Pedro from Brighton for £60m, Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund for £48m and Estevao from Palmeiras for £52m all coming into the club. So how on earth will Maresca navigate a way through this mess, and find an attack that blends the old with the new? Boehly and the board have spent another £190m on four attackers this summer, and there may yet be more players coming in at Stamford Bridge. Our tactics expert Lee Scott takes a look at each of these players with a view to understanding how they might fit at Chelsea next season. Liam Delap Despite Ipswich being relegated from the Premier league last season it is fair to say that the England U21 international striker Liam Delap was one of the most coveted strikers in the window. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK There was significant interest in signing the former Man City academy player from rivals Man United. But it was Chelsea that moved quickest to secure the signature of the player for £30m. Last season Delap finished with 13 goals and 3 assists in all competitions for a team that were relegated. Compare that to Nicolas Jackson, the forward that Delap will likely replace at Chelsea, who scored 13 goals and had 6 assists for a team who created far more chances and crucially far more high quality chances. 17 Liam Delap signed for Chelsea for £30m this summer Credit: Alamy 17 Delap makes a run behind and Fernandez finds him with a clever pass Here, we see an example of what Delap brings to Chelsea, in the Club World Cup game with ES Tunis. He receives the chipped forward pass from Enzo Fernandez having found space between the fullback and the near side central defender. As he takes the ball down he takes contact from the fullback and holds the player off as he spins and drives into the area before finishing in style. One of the biggest criticisms of Jackson is that the Senegalese striker would regularly miss chances that appeared to be clear cut. He is strong in transition and shows good movement but his final action was still relatively erratic and not consistent enough. Delap, on the other hand, is a forward who pounces on half chances and is much more likely to take advantage of crosses and balls that are played into the area. Delap's strength is his ability to be a focal point on the last line and to create shooting opportunities. This is the aspect of his game that will be most beneficial for Chelsea in terms of upgrading what they had at the position last season. 17 Delap could play up the middle, with two traditional wingers either side 17 Liam Delap makes a run into the box to make a simple finish Delap provides a genuine presence in the opposition penalty area. Here, as the ball is crossed to the far post we see the English striker keep himself alive and separated from defensive players. As the ball comes back across he has an easy finish. Delap is likely to start the season as the main striker for Chelsea with Jackson dropping to the bench. Joao Pedro The signing of the 23-year-old Brazilian Joao Pedro, for £60m from Brighton, is slightly more difficult to read. This is because it is difficult to decide what his best position really is. He is perhaps best described as a modern versatile forward. While looked amazing as a lone striker with his two-goal performance against Fluminense in the Club World Cup, he is best when playing in close connection to others. We believe there is a chance that he is being seen as an option to play as the advanced attacking midfielder just behind Delap. Last season the Brazilian forward ended the campaign with 10 goals and 7 assists as this more creative forward type for Brighton. 17 Joao Pedro has made a blistering start to his Chelsea career Credit: Getty 17 Joao Pedro brings creativity and here he creates a chance for Yankuba Minteh at Brighton Here, we see the type of chance creation that Chelsea fans can expect to see from Joao Pedro. He takes possession initially on the near side and drives inside into space. He has the composure to see the run from his side towards the centre from Yankuba Minteh and he slides a pass through the last line to create a goalscoring opportunity. Even when Joao Pedro played as a central striker at Brighton and at Watford he showed a clear tendency to drop deeper in towards the midfield and to look for pockets of space between the lines. This is why we do not believe that he will regularly play as the No 9 as Maresca needs a 9 who will play, as Delap does, on the last line threatening space and pushing the opposition defensive line back. He does move the ball very well to find teammates and to take advantage of space that the opposition leaves behind. His technical level is extremely high and he shifts the ball effectively at speed taking advantage of any spaces that are present in the opposition defensive block. 17 Joao Pedro could play in the middle of the front three 17 Joao Pedro however also has the ability to play out on the wing, with Delap in the centre 17 Or Joao Pedro could be used deeper as a No10 alongside Cole Palmer 17 Joao Pedro's close control and inventive pass creates a chance for Brighton last season This time we see Joao Pedro taking possession of the ball on the edge of the opposition area as Mitoma pulls the ball back to him. As he receives the ball there are two opposition players immediately pressing. The Brazilian international is intelligent enough to allow the press to develop before flicking the ball across to a teammate to finish. Joao Pedro will without a doubt bring value to Chelsea going into next season although it remains to be seen exactly how he will be used positionally by Maresca going into next season. Jamie Gittens The 20-year-old English U21 international Jamie Gittens has just moved to Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund in Germany. He played 2,803 minutes in all competitions and he ended with 12 goals and 5 assists. He is naturally right-footed and he typically plays as an attacking left-winger. Chelsea struggled for consistent production from their wingers last season with Noni Madueke arguably being the best wide attacker that they had. Now, Madueke appears to be for sale with several clubs showing significant interest as Chelsea perhaps look to make space for their new arrivals. Gittens is a wide attacker who is at his best when he gets the ball in positions where he can dribble and look to outplay opposition defenders in 1v1 situations. 17 Jamie Gittens is returning to England with Chelsea Credit: Getty 17 Jamie Gittens is a left winger who loves to cut inside on to his right foot Here, we see Gittens receiving the ball out wide in a position where he is faced up 1v1 against the opposition defender. He immediately takes the ball and looks to attack. He is well balanced with quick feet providing real threat in terms of outplaying the defender on either the inside or the outside. Gittens is still not the finished article but he is a young attacking player with genuine and real potential. If he develops properly then he could provide the point of difference in terms of having a real 1v1 threat that Chelsea were missing last season. Often they were too predictable when receiving the ball wide and Gittens is anything but predictable. He provides a threat in terms of shooting as he has a clear tendency to drive inside and even when defenders know that this is what he wants to do they still struggle to stop him. 17 Gittens is able to go outside or inside his opposing defender Again, here we see him receiving the ball in a position where he can immediately face up the opposition defender in a 1v1 situation. While he is well balanced and can attack down the outside he wants to create maximum threat and to go inside to a position where he can shoot at goal. Despite the fact that Gittens is not yet fully developed we still believe that there is a chance that he starts the new season as the first choice left-sided attacker for Chelsea. Estevao The most exciting of the new arrivals is the hardest to predict at this stage of his development. Chelsea moved quickly to secure the signing of the 18-year-old Brazilian international winger Estevao from Palmeiras. The youngster made his debut as a 16-year-old and very quickly started to attract interest. Now, Chelsea have beaten off competition for his signature. Estevao is a left-footed attacking player who profiles best as a right-sided attacking winger with his ability to come inside and create threat when coming inside in possession. He is a dangerous dribbler but he is at his most dangerous in the final third in positions where he can take the ball and come inside to create shooting opportunities for himself. 17 Estevao Willian has been hyped up to be the next Neymar by the Brazilian media Credit: Getty 17 Here, we see Estevao actually scoring against Chelsea in the Club World Cup. He is positioned intelligently in the channel and as he receives the pass inside he immediately pushes the ball forward before then finishing with power at the near post. It remains to be seen whether Estevao is an immediate starter at Chelsea or whether he will back up the likes of Cole Palmer or even spend his first season in Europe on loan in France with Strasbourg. If he does remain at Chelsea though and if he does get first-team minutes then he has the quality to contribute. 17 Estevao has the pace to run in behind the opposition defence This time we see the young Brazilian international holding a wide position to stretch the pitch and find space on the outside of the opposition defence. All it takes is one long pass to release Estevao into space as he drives forward and ends up scoring in the opposition area. He is intelligent in his positioning and in the runs that he makes. When playing with more technical and intelligent players at Chelsea he will likely make a real impact if he is given a chance to do so. Conclusion Knowing Chelsea and their ownership the way that we do now there is little doubt that their signings are not finished for next season. We will likely continue to see them be active in the market as they strengthen and add more young talent. With the four attacking players that have been added so far, however, there is little doubt that they have given Maresca more options next season.
The Irish Sun
12-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
How Maresca can fit £190m new strikers Delap, Joao Pedro, Gittens and Estevao into his Chelsea team next season
CHELSEA'S transfer strategy since the take over by Todd Boehly and BlueCo in 2022 has been scattergun to say the least. The new ownership group has installed a clear recruitment plan - buy young players with high potential whatever it costs. 17 Enzo Maresca has a few problems to solve next season Credit: AFP The burn and churn policy means books , which gives manager Enzo Maresca a huge headache. TheItalian coach has made it clear he favours a smaller and tighter squad so that players would be able to build understanding and momentum. Yet the logic of having so many top scouts and sporting directors dictates that more and more players will continue to be brought into the club. read more in football They have already strengthened their forward options since the end of the season with Palmeiras for £52m all coming into the club. So how on earth will Maresca navigate a way through this mess, and find an attack that blends the old with the new? Boehly and the board have spent another £190m on four attackers this summer , and there may yet be more players coming in at Stamford Bridge. Our tactics expert Lee Scott takes a look at each of these players with a view to understanding how they might fit at Chelsea next season. Most read in Football Liam Delap Despite Ipswich being relegated from the Premier league last season it is fair to say that the England U21 international striker Liam Delap was one of the most coveted strikers in the window. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK There was significant interest in signing the former Man City academy player from rivals Man United. But it was Chelsea that moved quickest to secure the signature of the player for £30m. Last season Delap finished with 13 goals and 3 assists in all competitions for a team that were relegated. Compare that to 17 Liam Delap signed for Chelsea for £30m this summer Credit: Alamy 17 Delap makes a run behind and Fernandez finds him with a clever pass Here, we see an example of what Delap brings to Chelsea, in the Club World Cup game with ES Tunis. He receives the chipped forward pass from Enzo Fernandez having found space between the fullback and the near side central defender. As he takes the ball down he takes contact from the fullback and holds the player off as he spins and drives into the area before finishing in style. One of the biggest criticisms of Jackson is that the Senegalese striker would regularly miss chances that appeared to be clear cut. He is strong in transition and shows good movement but his final action was still relatively erratic and not consistent enough. Delap, on the other hand, is a forward who pounces on half chances and is much more likely to take advantage of crosses and balls that are played into the area. Delap's strength is his ability to be a focal point on the last line and to create shooting opportunities. This is the aspect of his game that will be most beneficial for Chelsea in terms of upgrading what they had at the position last season. 17 Delap could play up the middle, with two traditional wingers either side 17 Liam Delap makes a run into the box to make a simple finish Delap provides a genuine presence in the opposition penalty area. Here, as the ball is crossed to the far post we see the English striker keep himself alive and separated from defensive players. As the ball comes back across he has an easy finish. Delap is likely to start the season as the main striker for Chelsea with Jackson dropping to the bench. Joao Pedro The signing of the 23-year-old Brazilian Joao Pedro , for £60m from Brighton, is slightly more difficult to read. This is because it is difficult to decide what his best position really is. He is perhaps best described as a modern versatile forward. While looked amazing as a lone striker with Club World Cup , he is best when playing in close connection to others. We believe there is a chance that he is being seen as an option to play as the advanced attacking midfielder just behind Delap. Last season the Brazilian forward ended the campaign with 10 goals and 7 assists as this more creative forward type for Brighton. 17 Joao Pedro has made a blistering start to his Chelsea career Credit: Getty 17 Joao Pedro brings creativity and here he creates a chance for Yankuba Minteh at Brighton Here, we see the type of chance creation that Chelsea fans can expect to see from Joao Pedro . He takes possession initially on the near side and drives inside into space. He has the composure to see the run from his side towards the centre from Yankuba Minteh and he slides a pass through the last line to create a goalscoring opportunity. Even when Joao Pedro played as a central striker at Brighton and at Watford he showed a clear tendency to drop deeper in towards the midfield and to look for pockets of space between the lines. This is why we do not believe that he will regularly play as the No 9 as Maresca needs a 9 who will play, as Delap does, on the last line threatening space and pushing the opposition defensive line back. He does move the ball very well to find teammates and to take advantage of space that the opposition leaves behind. His technical level is extremely high and he shifts the ball effectively at speed taking advantage of any spaces that are present in the opposition defensive block. 17 Joao Pedro could play in the middle of the front three 17 Joao Pedro however also has the ability to play out on the wing, with Delap in the centre 17 Or Joao Pedro could be used deeper as a No10 alongside Cole Palmer 17 Joao Pedro's close control and inventive pass creates a chance for Brighton last season This time we see Joao Pedro taking possession of the ball on the edge of the opposition area as Mitoma pulls the ball back to him. As he receives the ball there are two opposition players immediately pressing. The Brazilian international is intelligent enough to allow the press to develop before flicking the ball across to a teammate to finish. Joao Pedro will without a doubt bring value to Chelsea going into next season although it remains to be seen exactly how he will be used positionally by Maresca going into next season. Jamie Gittens The 20-year-old English U21 international Jamie Gittens has just moved to Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund in Germany . He played 2,803 minutes in all competitions and he ended with 12 goals and 5 assists. He is naturally right-footed and he typically plays as an attacking left-winger. Chelsea struggled for consistent production from their wingers last season with Now, Madueke appears to be for sale with several clubs showing significant interest as Chelsea perhaps look to make space for their new arrivals. Gittens is a wide attacker who is at his best when he gets the ball in positions where he can dribble and look to outplay opposition defenders in 1v1 situations. 17 Jamie Gittens is returning to England with Chelsea Credit: Getty 17 Jamie Gittens is a left winger who loves to cut inside on to his right foot Here, we see Gittens receiving the ball out wide in a position where he is faced up 1v1 against the opposition defender. He immediately takes the ball and looks to attack. He is well balanced with quick feet providing real threat in terms of outplaying the defender on either the inside or the outside. Gittens is still not the finished article but he is a young attacking player with genuine and real potential. If he develops properly then he could provide the point of difference in terms of having a real 1v1 threat that Chelsea were missing last season. Often they were too predictable when receiving the ball wide and Gittens is anything but predictable. He provides a threat in terms of shooting as he has a clear tendency to drive inside and even when defenders know that this is what he wants to do they still struggle to stop him. 17 Gittens is able to go outside or inside his opposing defender Again, here we see him receiving the ball in a position where he can immediately face up the opposition defender in a 1v1 situation. While he is well balanced and can attack down the outside he wants to create maximum threat and to go inside to a position where he can shoot at goal. Despite the fact that Gittens is not yet fully developed we still believe that there is a chance that he starts the new season as the first choice left-sided attacker for Chelsea. Estevao The most exciting of the new arrivals is the hardest to predict at this stage of his development. Chelsea moved quickly to secure the signing of the 18-year-old Palmeiras . The youngster made his debut as a 16-year-old and very quickly started to attract interest. Now, Chelsea have beaten off competition for his signature. Estevao is a left-footed attacking player who profiles best as a right-sided attacking winger with his ability to come inside and create threat when coming inside in possession. He is a dangerous dribbler but he is at his most dangerous in the final third in positions where he can take the ball and come inside to create shooting opportunities for himself. 17 Estevao Willian has been hyped up to be the next Neymar by the Brazilian media Credit: Getty 17 Here, we see Estevao actually scoring against Chelsea in the Club World Cup . He is positioned intelligently in the channel and as he receives the pass inside he immediately pushes the ball forward before then finishing with power at the near post. It remains to be seen whether Estevao is an immediate starter at Chelsea or whether he will back up the likes of Cole Palmer or even spend his first season in Europe on loan in France with Strasbourg. If he does remain at Chelsea though and if he does get first-team minutes then he has the quality to contribute. 17 Estevao has the pace to run in behind the opposition defence This time we see the young Brazilian international holding a wide position to stretch the pitch and find space on the outside of the opposition defence. All it takes is one long pass to release Estevao into space as he drives forward and ends up scoring in the opposition area. He is intelligent in his positioning and in the runs that he makes. When playing with more technical and intelligent players at Chelsea he will likely make a real impact if he is given a chance to do so. Conclusion Knowing Chelsea and their ownership the way that we do now there is little doubt that their signings are not finished for next season. We will likely continue to see them be active in the market as they strengthen and add more young talent. With the four attacking players that have been added so far, however, there is little doubt that they have given Maresca more options next season.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Palmeiras 1-2 Chelsea: Goalkeeper howler sends Blues into Club World Cup semi-final
Chelsea edged past Palmeiras to reach the Club World Cup semi-finals as Estevao Willian scored against his future club. Cole Palmer put the Blues ahead in the first half with a fine solo effort, holding off two challenges before cooly slotting inside the far post. Advertisement Chelsea could - and perhaps should - have added to their tally before the break, with Liam Delap and Marc Cucurella missing good chances after being set up by the impressive Pedro Neto. Delap struggled to assert himself against the Palmeiras, and his frustrations boiled over in the form of multiple first-half fouls, and then a booking - which rules him out of the semi-final. And that wastefulness was punished by Estevao, who beat Robert Sanchez from the tightest of angles soon after the restart. Taking the ball inside the area, the teenager took two touches and unleashed a shot inside the near post, which flew into the top of the net. Advertisement The game really opened up thereafter, with Joao Pedro thrown on for his debut by replacing the ineffective Delap, and Arsenal target Noni Madueke producing far more than the quiet Christopher Nkunku. Both Pedro and Madueke were denied by Weverton, before Malo Gusto's cross-cum-shot was turned into his own net by the Palmeiras goalkeeper seven minutes from time. There was still time for Levi Colwill to pick up a booking, and thus rule himself out of the semi-final and hand Enzo Maresca another selection headache, after Reece James was a late withdrawal from the starting line-up with an injury. Chelsea will face Fluminense on Tuesday.
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'I have my way' - Joao Pedro involved all over the pitch
Joao Pedro registered 26 touches of the ball against Fluminense. Of all Chelsea forwards to have started at the Club World Cup, only Jackson has managed as many touches in a all of the Brazilian's touches took place inside the opposition half, however – far from was involved all over the pitch in Tuesday's semi-final, with seven of his touches coming inside his own half. "The good thing about Joao is that we knew already how good he was," said Maresca after the game, also revealing he spoke to ex-Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi prior to signing him."Today he played deep but we know he is able to drop deep and link up the play. That's why we decided to bring him in." By contrast, Delap only touched the ball twice inside his own half after starting Chelsea's final group game against Tunis, while only four of Jackson's touches against Los Angeles FC took place in the Blues' half of the Pedro also made more of an impact in wide areas, regularly popping up on both flanks in an effort to influence Chelsea's build-up majority of Delap and Jackson's touches, meanwhile, were in central areas in the final third of the pitch."Every team has a different style to play: Delap has a style, Jackson another and I have my way," Joao Pedro said before Tuesday's game."I think whoever brings more good things to the team is going to play."On this evidence, Joao Pedro has more than an outside chance of beating both Delap and Jackson to a starting berth in Sunday's showpiece.
