One of Xabi Alonso’s biggest tasks this summer is reducing the size of Chelsea’s squad, and it has already resulted in a few sales. Fringe players are under threat, and Liam Delap could be a casualty.
So far, Marc Cucurella has joined Real Madrid for a total package of £52m. Jimmy-Jay Morgan has gone to West Brom while Tyrique George is close to moving to Everton, and Inter want Trevoh Chalobah.
Realistically, how much is Liam Delap worth?🤔
By the end of the summer, plenty could have left Chelsea. With all of the new arrivals and returning loan players, Chelsea could have a squad verging on 40 players, and without Europe, that needs trimming.
It leaves last season’s fringe players facing uncertain summers. A whole host of centre-backs will leave, goalkeepers will go, and attackers like Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens and Liam Delap could depart.
What Xabi Alonso will do if an offer arrives for Liam Delap
Delap really struggled to have any kind of impact at Chelsea following his £30m move from Ipswich Town, and it resulted in the striker scoring just one Premier League goal. His stock still remains largely high.
He didn’t get a fair crack at the whip given the form of Joao Pedro, and other Premier League clubs are considering a move. Earlier this summer, it was claimed as many as five Premier League clubs were keen.
But with Alonso at the helm, what is the Spaniard planning to do with Delap? The striker himself wants to fight for his place at Stamford Bridge, but Alonso is under pressure to sell as many players as he can.
According to journalist Sebastien Vidal, Alonso will cash in on Delap this summer if the right offer arrives. It is claimed Alonso wants to ‘clean house’ and Delap has not escaped Alonso’s summer exodus.
Vidal reports: “Xabi Alonso won’t hold onto Delap if Chelsea receive an offer deemed acceptable. The Blues coach wants to clean house in the team’s XXL squad.”
Which clubs are interested in signing Liam Delap?
The five clubs initially linked with signing Delap were Man United, Everton, Newcastle, Sunderland, and Brighton. It is likely that Chelsea would request a similar fee to the £30m spent on Delap last summer.
Nicolas Jackson or Liam Delap, which one are you keeping? Tell us who and why!
Since then, Spurs have been linked with Delap, while Everton’s interest is more than just a simple link. Whether Everton and Chelsea do business again after Tyrique George remains to be seen this summer.
Ultimately, if Chelsea got anything similar to the fee that they spent on Delap 12 months ago, the chances are that they will take it. Emmanuel Emegha is arriving, and Delap’s game time is only going to decrease.
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