The form of Liam Delap has not been anywhere near good enough, we have to be brutally honest. Yes, he has also struggled with injuries and has been unable to create any real consistency due to not getting consistent games. This will be an aspect.
But right now, it looks like a case of perhaps this job is just too big for him, or maybe he is just not that suited to possessional football. Maybe he can grow used to it and develop, because he is still a young player. But there are certainly some warranted concerns.
As you know, I do rate the player and I do think he can become a good striker still – he does tick a lot of the boxes. But he certainly isn’t showing that right now.
So, this has obviously led to rumours, one of which we will discuss now.
Liam Delap’s former suitors are keeping a very close eye on developments at Stamford Bridge, with TEAMtalk reporting that the striker is effectively playing for his Chelsea future in the second half of the campaign.
The article is written by Graeme Bailey, who I do know to have good info most of the time, even if some don’t rate him. So it’s entirely up to you if you want to believe the story or not, I’m not telling you what to believe and what not to believe.
Manchester United, Newcastle United and Everton all pushed hard for his signature before his move to Stamford Bridge, and all three clubs are apparently monitoring the situation closely should Chelsea decide to listen to offers. The report goes on to say that other clubs such as Brighton and Sunderland are also watching.
Bailey also says there was genuine optimism that Delap would push his way into the starting XI and use the platform to force his way into England’s World Cup plans, when Chelsea signed him in the summer.
He says while the club are thrilled with the impact of summer signing Joao Pedro, there are growing concerns about the overall depth and reliability of their forward line.
Sources have told TEAMtalk that the remainder of the season will be crucial in determining whether Delap is part of Chelsea’s long‑term project. The club insist publicly that he remains a key figure, but privately there is an acceptance that a Chelsea centre‑forward who isn’t scoring will not keep that role indefinitely.
Despite his struggles, Delap’s market apparently remains strong.
For now, the message from inside the club is clear: Delap has time to put things right, but the pressure is on – and his future in west London may hinge on what he delivers between now and May.
So lets see what happens. But the bottom line is, Delap needs to show big improvements and he needs to show them ASAP.
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