I love Liam Delap, I’ve always said that. But of course I have concerns, as I would do about any young player we would sign who does not come in with heaps of experience.
With Delap though, he’s just turned 22, and he does come with almost 100 senior appearances to his name across Manchester City, Stoke City, Preston, Hull City, and Ipswich Town. So not all in the Premier League, but decent senior experience regardless.
This does not guarantee anything, but it does put him in a better position and a little less raw than many other players we have signed recently.
Ideally yes, we should be targeting a more proven and elite striker for our new 9, because it is SO important we get this right now. Someone like Viktor Gyokeres or Victor Osimhen, two strikers who have bags of European experience and are older heads, will be a much preferred option here.
But with our recruitment style these days, Delap could be the happy medium and the most we can expect. Unless they ‘change the model’ a bit, of course….
But as I say, I do like Delap a lot. He comes with tenacity and the ability to bully centre backs, he is a good focal point in and out of the box, decent in the air, has a real physicality, and is a good all round modern day 9. He brings so many traits that we lack.
Ange Postecoglou said at the weekend: “[Liam] Delap’s a handful for anybody in this league.”
And that’s exactly what he is.
I see him as a real complete striker, and this chart backs that up:
Delap has scored 10 goals from 7.19 xG in the Premier League this season.
Imagine if Delap is in a side like Chelsea who create a lot? He would get a lot more chances to score more goals. He would also be good against low blocks as well as on the counter, because he is a complete striker and is powerful running with the ball too as well as being a good presence in the box. The amount that Chelsea cross the ball, we truly need a target in there, Delap would provide this.
He strikes the ball well too and with conviction.
Delap has a shot accuracy of just over 51%, which is 10th among forwards who have played more than 900 minutes in the Premier League this season. This is better than Alexander Isak, Watkins, Jean-Phillipe Mateta and Dominic Solanke.
Enzo Maresca rates him highly.
Maresca on Delap: “Liam is a fantastic player, we spent one year together. I think he scored 22 or 24 goals.
“This is a very good striker – works hard off the ball, on the ball, he understands the game and he can score goals. Because of his age, I think he can be an important player for England.”
Delap is a rare breed.
Kieran Mckenna on Delap: “Top. He’s improving all the time. His rate of improvement for a young player is really high.
“His style is enjoyable to watch for anyone. There’s not many like him out there and he’s playing incredible Premier League defenders every week.”
Delap is a player who is technically good but also an absolute menace and a real physical problem for centre backs, just ask Chelsea’s centre backs!
I love him because I think he brings all the attributes we need and do not have.
But yes, I do believe that if we can get a more proven and experienced option up top in the most important position that Chelsea have failed to address since 2017, then that would probably make me feel a bit more content and confident.
Delap is young, which means he will also improve a lot more too and get even better, but it also means that there’s no guarantees that he comes in and bangs making such a big step up. But then you can say that about more experienced players as well. I just think we need more experienced leaders on the pitch.
Having said that, Delap does add the mentality and personalities we need – winners, fighters, and battlers.
Let’s just say, I’d not be at all upset if we signed him. I agree with the shouts on here, we should get both Delap and Gyokeres, in an ideal world, and move Nicolas Jackson to play off the left. But that is just dream land and will not happen.
