Liam Delap is determined to stay in the Premier League after Serie A side Como reportedly made an approach to sign the Chelsea striker on loan. The 23-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Ipswich Town for £30 million last summer, has struggled to make an impact at Stamford Bridge, scoring just two goals in 41 appearances during an injury-hit campaign.
Delap's Chelsea struggles and reduced role
Delap beat off competition from Manchester United to secure his move to Chelsea, but his first season in west London proved difficult. A combination of injuries and suspensions limited his game time, and he often played second fiddle to fellow summer signing Joao Pedro. Now, with the arrivals of Emmanuel Emegha and Danny Welbeck, plus the return of Nicolas Jackson from a loan spell at Bayern Munich, Delap has slipped further down the pecking order.
According to talkSPORT, Delap is eager to remain in the Premier League and is waiting for offers from English top-flight clubs. Everton, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United have all previously shown interest in the former Ipswich striker. Chelsea are reportedly valuing Delap at £40 million, with several Premier League clubs said to be monitoring the situation.
Como's approach and Premier League interest
Como, managed by Cesc Fabregas, have made an approach to sign Delap on loan as they look to strengthen their attacking options ahead of the new season. However, Delap's preference for staying in England could complicate any potential deal. The Serie A club's interest comes as Chelsea also consider offloading other strikers, with Jackson attracting attention from Aston Villa and Newcastle United.
Jackson, who returned from Bayern Munich, is valued at £65 million by Chelsea. Both Aston Villa and Newcastle have reportedly made approaches for the Senegalese international. New Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso has spoken positively about Jackson, saying: 'Yes, Nico is a great player. He's a threat to play against any defence, so we want to have players that can compete, and Nico for sure is one of them. We need to go day by day checking options, but we are happy that Nico is with us.'
Potential exits and squad reshaping
Delap is not the only striker who could leave Chelsea this summer, with the club open to offers for Jackson as well. The potential departures would mark a significant reshaping of Chelsea's attacking lineup under Alonso. With Delap keen on a Premier League move, the coming weeks could see a flurry of transfer activity involving the Blues' forwards.
As the transfer window progresses, Delap's future remains uncertain, but his desire to stay in England's top flight is clear. Whether a Premier League club meets Chelsea's valuation or secures a loan deal will be key to resolving his situation.
