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
Gary Cahill has backed Liam Delap as the Chelsea signing he’s most excited about this summer(Image: Getty Images)
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.
Delap became Chelsea’s second signing of the summer in a deal potentially worth £30million(Image: Getty Images)
„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.
Delap has already made an impression at the Club World Cup this summer(Image: Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
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.
Gary Cahill was speaking on behalf of BetMGM. You could win over £27m today with MGM Millions. BeGambleAware 18+
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