Transfer News

LIAM DELAP and Chelsea could be a match made in heaven as the Blues grow increasingly confident of signing Ipswich’s £30million striker.Delap, 22, is set to be on the move just one year after joining the Tractor Boys from Man City in a deal worth just £20m.Liam Delap could be a perfect fit for Chelsea and vice versaCredit: AlamyA move would see the Ipswich star reunited with Enzo MarescaCredit: PAHe has scored 12 Premier League goals this season.And that has seen several clubs join the race for his signature this summer.Manchester United are keen as Ruben Amorim searches for more firepower.But SunSport can exclusively reveal that Chelsea are now leading the race for Delap.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnd a move to Stamford Bridge could be the perfect outcome for both parties.For starters, Chelsea now resemble a mini-Man City following Todd Boehly’s £1billion rebuild.Former academy star Cole Palmer is the club’s top player.Romeo Lavia has also become a fan favourite – at least when he’s fit enough to play.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSBehind the scenes, recruitment chief Joe Shields knows Delap well from their time together at City’s academy.But most importantly, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was his manager at City’s academy.Liam Delap tipped to snub Man Utd and Chelsea for EVERTON transfer after fans spot gesture following match vs ToffeesDelap would play in the same side as Romeo Lavia and Cole PalmerCredit: AlamyThe pair enjoyed a fine working relationship together.And Maresca hailed Delap before both of Chelsea’s fixtures against Ipswich this season, with the forward scoring in his side’s 2-0 home win in December.However, Delap and Chelsea also match up in terms of playing style.The hitman’s intelligence and movement off the last line creates plenty of space.Delap could thrive off the clever passes pinged in by Palmer and Enzo Fernandez.His athleticism and strength would also help break down teams that sit in a deeper defensive block.Delap’s movement off the last line helps to create plenty of space for both himself and his team-matesIn the above example, we see a clever movement from Delap where he first creates the attack before timing his arrival into space to finish comfortably.He picks up the ball and drives forward before releasing it wide.The forward then moves into the space to pick up the cross and finish first time.Chelsea could definitely benefit from having a stiker with this kind of movement in his locker.Chelsea raids on Man City starsCHELSEA have become adept at nicking some of the talent factory from rivals Man City – and it doesn’t look like stopping any time soon.Liam Delap would become the EIGHTH high profile name to move to Stamford Bridge from The Etihad, sometimes via a couple of other clubs in between.Enzo MarescaChelsea’s current head coach was once part of Pep Guardiola’s backroom staff at City — and is such of devotee of his former boss he’s known as Diet Pep. Maresca, 45, – who also spent a season as Leicester manager – worked as manager of City’s Under-23 team.Joe ShieldsChelsea’s Co-Director of Recruitment and Talent, who was poached from Southampton, where he spent just two months after leaving Man City in 2022. Glenn van der KraanVan der Kraan was at City before joining as Chelsea’s academy technical director last October. He was head of coaching at City’s academyCole PalmerThe 23-year-old England star made the switch from Man City to Chelsea in 2023 for £40million, potentially rising to £42.5m. Palmer, pictured here with Lavia at Man City in 2021, has become the star man at Chelsea with 37 goals in 68 games for the club.Romeo LaviaThe Belgium international midfielder, 21, joined Chelsea from Southampton for £53m in 2023. Before that he spent two years at Man City, making one appearance for the first team.Jadon SanchoSancho, 25, spent two years at Man City where he was rated very highly.  But they sold the young winger to Dortmund for £8m in 2017, and he then joined Man Utd for £73m in 2021. Currently on loan at Chelsea.Tosin AdarabioyoThe 6ft5in centre back was at Man City’s academy for four seasons, and made his debut for the first team aged 19. Now 27, he spent four years at Fulham before moving to Chelsea on a free transfer last summer.Delap also has a sharp sense when it comes to scoring.His ball anticipation and first-move timing is impeccable.The centre-forward’s tendency to attack space while running across defenders means he is often arriving at the right time to meet crosses.Despite his size, Delap also boasts plenty of pace.Cole Palmer has not had a striker playing with him this season who he can rely on to make runs in behindDelap is able to read the pass before it’s madeHis surprising speed helps stretch the game while opening up gaps in the final third.And creative team-mates like Cole Palmer could take advantage with clever dribbles towards goal while forcing the opposition backwards.Read More on The SunIt now remains to be seen where Delap ends up once the season is over.But should he accept a move to Chelsea, it is highly likely to be the right choice.Join SUN CLUB for the Chelsea Files every Tuesday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Stamford Bridge More

ARNE SLOT has a bold tactical plan for Jeremie Frimpong if Liverpool can get a deal over the line.The Premier League champions will be in the market for a Trent Alexander-Arnold replacement this summer as he heads to Real Madrid.Jeremie Frimpong is linked with a move to LiverpoolCredit: GettyBayer Leverkusen star Frimpong is supposedly the club’s top target at right-back.The 24-year-old has a release clause worth around £33million but an agreement is still some way off.But shock reports from Sky Germany claim Frimpong might not play the same role as Alexander-Arnold.The Dutchman plays as an incredibly forward-thinking right-wing-back under Xabi Alonso.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnd Liverpool “plan to use him on the right flank in an attacking role – similar to his position at Leverkusen.”It is unclear if this means Slot is planning a formation change to a back three or whether the setup will remain the same on paper with a tactical tweak.Alexander-Arnold often drifts into central midfield, while Frimpong is more comfortable overlapping.He has even played as a conventional winger in the past and he could get a run of games there while Mo Salah is away with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSThe tournament runs from December 21 to January 18, meaning Liverpool’s main man could miss a busy time of the season.Slot is set to go on a spending spree this summer as the club also want a centre-back, left-back and striker.Fans convinced Frimpong will join Liverpool after spotting his Holland camp antics The boss is set to be handed Liverpool’s biggest ever transfer budget. More

CHELSEA are increasingly confident of landing Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap despite interest from Manchester United.The England Under-21 forward, who has scored 12 Premier League goals, has a release clause of just £30million.Chelsea are increasingly confident of landing Ipswich Town star Liam DelapChelsea could beat Manchester United for DelapUnited are in the market for a new centre-forward but Delap, 22, is favouring a link-up with the Blues’ boss Enzo Maresca, his academy coach at Manchester City.Chelsea’s current recruitment director Joe Shields was instrumental in Delap’s move from Derby to join Man City’s star-filled academy in 20219.The signing of Delap would be seen as a huge coup for Chelsea as he is one of the most in-demand young players in this country.He joined Ipswich last summer from City in a £15m deal, rising to £20million.Read More on Man UtdHe had a release clause of £40m but that has been reduced by £10m now the Tractor Boys have been relegated.Arsenal have also been watching the forward, whose goals have not been enough to save Ipswich from relegation back to the Championship.Delap had hoped his form, particularly in the first half of the season, would be enough to get into Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad in March.Yet he remained with the U21s along with Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSBut he did train with England’s senior team at St George’s Park ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Latvia.Tuchel will name his next squad, on Friday week, for the World Cup qualifier away to Andorra and a friendly at home to Senegal.But Delap is again set to remain with the U21s as they prepare for the European Championships in Slovakia.Liam Delap tipped to snub Man Utd and Chelsea for EVERTON transfer after fans spot gesture following match vs ToffeesChelsea raids on Man City starsCHELSEA have become adept at nicking some of the talent factory from rivals Man City – and it doesn’t look like stopping any time soon.Liam Delap would become the EIGHTH high profile name to move to Stamford Bridge from The Etihad, sometimes via a couple of other clubs in between.Enzo MarescaChelsea’s current head coach was once part of Pep Guardiola’s backroom staff at City — and is such of devotee of his former boss he’s known as Diet Pep. Maresca, 45, – who also spent a season as Leicester manager – worked as manager of City’s Under-23 team.Joe ShieldsChelsea’s Co-Director of Recruitment and Talent, who was poached from Southampton, where he spent just two months after leaving Man City in 2022. Glenn van der KraanVan der Kraan was at City before joining as Chelsea’s academy technical director last October. He was head of coaching at City’s academyCole PalmerThe 23-year-old England star made the switch from Man City to Chelsea in 2023 for £40million, potentially rising to £42.5m. Palmer, pictured here with Lavia at Man City in 2021, has become the star man at Chelsea with 37 goals in 68 games for the club.Romeo LaviaThe Belgium international midfielder, 21, joined Chelsea from Southampton for £53m in 2023. Before that he spent two years at Man City, making one appearance for the first team.Jadon SanchoSancho, 25, spent two years at Man City where he was rated very highly.  But they sold the young winger to Dortmund for £8m in 2017, and he then joined Man Utd for £73m in 2021. Currently on loan at Chelsea.Tosin AdarabioyoThe 6ft5in centre back was at Man City’s academy for four seasons, and made his debut for the first team aged 19. Now 27, he spent four years at Fulham before moving to Chelsea on a free transfer last summer.The striker counts a total of 12 goals and two assists in 38 appearances across all competitions this season.Football is in Delap’s blood. His dad Rory played for Stoke City, and Delap Jr appeared on the set of Soccer AM in 2014 alongside his father.The former Stoke City and Ireland midfielder is best remembered for his insanely long throw-ins.Former Stoke City hero Rory Delap is Liam’s dadLiam seen on the set of Soccer AM in 2014Credit: AFP More