Enzo Maresca already has a strong squad, which has taken the club to second in the Premier League table this season.
Chelsea are on 31 points, just four behind leaders Liverpool, and are the top scorers in the division with 35 goals.
Even so, they are still being linked with other forwards, including Ipswich’s Liam Delap.
Earlier this month, journalist Simon Phillips reported that Chelsea were working on a potential deal for Delap‘s signature.
He has now posted an update on his Substack Si Phillips Talks Chelsea, which is good news for any Chelsea supporter who wants Delap at Stamford Bridge.
According to Phillips, Chelsea have made contact with Ipswich and are now in talks over signing Delap.
The journalist wrote: “SPTC sources have now confirmed that Chelsea have recently made contact with Ipswich regarding a potential move for Delap just to see if it is doable, when it would be doable, and to gauge some details on the cost involved.
He later added: “Chelsea have now made contact and opened talks. However, the source also points out that this is still not a given that Chelsea even make a move to sign Delap.”
While Chelsea may be in contact with Ipswich, it does not look like the Blues are certain to make an offer to sign the 21-year-old.
However, if they do, it appears that any deal is unlikely to go through until the summer transfer window, with Phillips claiming on Substack that the newly-promoted club will not sell their star striker in the middle of the season.
The above is hardly surprising, considering the form that he is in. In 15 appearances, Delap has scored six goals, which is not a bad return for a centre-forward playing in a struggling team.
The England U21 international is a No.9 with a lot of quality. When Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke about his former player in 2022, he described him as an “incredible finisher”, as per the News & Star.
If Chelsea’s interest becomes stronger and Ipswich get relegated from the Premier League, though, then you suspect that Kieran McKenna will not be able to hold onto him. It is something to keep an eye on heading into January.
