Chelsea are set to secure the signing of Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap after activating the £30 million release clause in his contract. The 22-year-old, who joined Ipswich from Manchester City in a deal worth up to £20 million last summer, has been given the green light to explore a move away from Portman Road following Ipswich’s relegation from the Premier League.
Delap’s future has been a subject of significant interest across several clubs, with Manchester United, Everton, Newcastle United, and Nottingham Forest all reportedly keen on the striker. Manchester City, who sold Delap to Ipswich, also retain a buy-back clause, giving them a potential option to re-sign him. However, sources suggest that Chelsea have emerged as the front-runners in the race for Delap’s signature, and the striker himself is believed to be keen on making Stamford Bridge his next destination.
While Chelsea have triggered the release clause, finalising the deal will still depend on reaching an agreement on personal terms with the player. Delap is thought to be eager for the move, which would see him return to the Champions League after making a single appearance in the competition with Manchester City back in 2022.
Chelsea’s recent qualification for the Champions League, following their UEFA Conference League triumph last week, adds further appeal for Delap as he looks to continue his career at the highest level.
Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna has acknowledged Delap’s situation, confirming that the player has been exploring his options for the coming season.
McKenna stated, “Liam’s looking at his options for next year, which I think he is entitled to do and we support him with that.”
Delap’s departure leaves a significant gap for Ipswich to fill, particularly after he made 32 Premier League starts and netted 12 goals during the campaign.
Despite Delap’s contributions, Ipswich were unable to avoid relegation, finishing 19th in the table.
In response to Delap’s likely exit, Ipswich have reportedly turned their attention to Chelsea’s promising young striker Marc Guiu.
The club are interested in bringing Guiu to Portman Road on a loan deal as they look to rebuild their squad for life back in the Championship.
For Chelsea, the potential addition of Delap represents a strategic move to strengthen their attacking options as they prepare for a return to Europe’s elite competition.
Meanwhile, Ipswich face the task of reshaping their squad after a disappointing Premier League campaign, with the club hoping to bounce back swiftly and regain their top-flight status.
