Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has spoken highly of Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, describing the Blues target as a “fantastic player.”
It was revealed last month that Chelsea is among the clubs interested in 21-year-old Delap, who has scored six goals in 17 games this season ahead of Monday’s clash between the two sides.
Maresca, who coached Delap during his time at Manchester City, knows the striker well. In the 2020/21 season, he helped Delap score 27 goals in 22 games for City’s Under-23 side. Reflecting on their time together, Maresca praised the young forward’s qualities.
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“Liam is a fantastic player,” said Maresca. “For his age, we spent one year together, and I think in that season, he scored 22 or 24 goals. This is a very good striker. As I’ve said many times, England is lucky because they have very good players, very good strikers. He works hard off the ball, on the ball, understands the game, and can score goals.”
“Because of his age, I think he can be an important player for England,” Maresca added.
Despite Chelsea’s interest, it is unlikely they will move for Delap in January, especially with Ipswich reluctant to sell at this stage as they battle relegation from the Premier League. A summer move is more plausible, particularly if Ipswich is relegated. However, Manchester City holds a buy-back clause, which could allow them to bring Delap back to the Etihad.
Chelsea is reportedly scouting several striker options, aiming to strengthen their forward line and provide competition for Nicolas Jackson. The club is believed to be tracking up to ten potential targets, with plans to settle on one ahead of the summer transfer window.