Alan Smith has suggested that Chelsea may decide to sell Liam Delap this summer, just one year after signing him for £30 million. The former Arsenal striker believes the 23-year-old has failed to adapt to life at Stamford Bridge and does not fit the club's style.
Delap joined Chelsea from Ipswich Town last summer after an impressive first full Premier League season, during which he scored double figures for a team that won only four games. The England Under-21 international was seen as a bargain at £30 million, especially after coming through Manchester City's academy. However, his debut campaign at Chelsea has been disappointing, with just two goals in 38 appearances, mostly from the bench.
Delap was expected to compete with Joao Pedro for a starting spot but quickly fell behind the Brazilian in the pecking order. Smith told BestBettingSites: "Well, it's certainly not worked for him at Chelsea. It's not been easy circumstances at all. The club has been in turmoil, really. He doesn't look like a Chelsea player. He's got some rough edges there. Whether they could be knocked off, I don't know. But he suited Ipswich a bit better. I still think he could join a mid to maybe a European challenging team."
Smith also criticised Delap's discipline, saying: "I think sometimes he gets too involved in the physical side of things, and he's a little bit mouthy as well. He got booked again the other day for dissent. Maybe that's a bit of frustration showing, but he would regard it as a failure, I'm sure, to go back to Ipswich. But who knows? I think Chelsea might think they can get him out and get somebody else in."
Despite the poor form, recent reports suggest the Chelsea board still backs Delap. However, former Chelsea defender Glen Johnson believes any player not in the starting lineup could be sold. "Anyone not getting in the team is up for sale," Johnson told Metro via BetMGM. "The team is struggling badly; if you are the person who can't get in that team, where do you go from there? If they are not good enough to get into a struggling team, then they are not good enough to ever get in the team."
Chelsea's miserable form continued with a 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest, their sixth successive Premier League loss. Interim boss Calum McFarlane now prepares to face struggling champions Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.
