Chelsea are now making a push to sign Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap and are keen to finalise a deal before the summer, TBR Football can exclusively reveal.
Delap has enjoyed a brilliant campaign with Ipswich this season and he is now being tipped for a place in former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad.
Chelsea have known about Delap since his Manchester City days and actually considered a move for the striker last summer having signed his good friend Cole Palmer 12-months prior.
Delap’s representatives are fully aware of the interest being shown and Chelsea have been in communication since before Christmas
The England under-21 international has emerged as Chelsea’s top summer target along with Slovenian superstar Benjamin Sesko, a player the Blues remain hugely keen on.
Chelsea want Liam Delap as soon as possible amid rival interest
That being said, Graeme Bailey – TBR Football chief correspondent, understands that Chelsea are ready to try and seal a deal with Ipswich prior to the summer.
Chelsea have been informed of substantial rival interest in Delap, meaning they are keen to secure his signature as soon as possible.
However, it’s understood that Ipswich are not in a hurry to do a deal before the summer given the level of interest that is being shown.
Ipswich signed Delap in a deal worth just over £20m last summer, but that deal included a buy-back for Man City at around £40m, as well as a sizable sell-on fee worth 20%.
However, City are not planning to bring Delap back, but if they feel that they can make a bigger profit from re-signing and selling the striker, that remains an option – but TBR are told that is ‘unlikely’ at this stage.
Ipswich Town are already planning their Liam Delap replacement
Sources believe that whilst Ipswich do not want to do a deal now, but Chelsea are ready to tempt them with an offer of around £50m including add-ons.
It’s also understood that Ipswich are working on possible replacements for Delap already.
READ MORE: Chelsea set sights on £16m player tipped to become ‘one of the best goalkeepers in the world’
Even if Kieran McKenna’s side stay in the Premier League this season, they wouldn’t expect to keep Delap at Portman Road.
Of course, Enzo Maresca knows Delap well from their days working together at City, a striker who has made considerable progress since.
Delap has scored 10 goals in 27 Premier League appearances this season, a 22-year-old who is attracting serious attention.
