Alan Smith, a former Arsenal striker, has expressed his belief that Chelsea may decide to cut their losses and offload Liam Delap this summer. The 23-year-old forward, who was signed by Chelsea from Ipswich Town for £30 million last summer, has struggled to make an impact in the Premier League so far.
Delap’s journey to Stamford Bridge began after he impressed at Ipswich, where he scored double figures for a side that managed only four wins in the Championship. His performances caught the attention of several top clubs, including Chelsea, who saw him as a potential star. However, the move has not panned out as expected.
In his first full season with Chelsea, Delap has made just two goals in 38 appearances, mostly coming off the bench. He was expected to compete with Joao Pedro for a starting spot but quickly fell behind the Brazilian in the pecking order. Smith believes Delap does not fit the style of play at Chelsea and could be on the move next season.
‘Well, it’s certainly not worked for him at Chelsea,’ Smith told BestBettingSites. ‘It’s not been easy circumstances at all. The club has been in turmoil, really. He doesn’t look like a Chelsea player. He’s got some rough edges there.’
Smith also pointed out that Delap might be better suited to a mid-table or European challenge team. He added that the forward’s tendency to get too involved physically and his vocal nature could be factors in his struggles. Delap has been booked recently for dissent, which Smith suggested could be a sign of frustration.
‘Maybe that’s a bit of frustration showing, but he would regard it as a failure, I’m sure, to go back to Ipswich. But who knows?’ Smith said. ‘I think Chelsea might think they can get him out and get somebody else in.’
Despite these concerns, Delap still has the backing of the Chelsea board, according to recent reports. However, ex-Chelsea defender Glen Johnson believes players struggling to break into the team are likely to be sold ahead of the summer transfer window.
‘Anyone not getting in the team is up for sale,’ Johnson told BetMGM. ‘The team is struggling badly, if you are the person who can’t get in that team, where do you go from there? If they are not good enough to get into a struggling team, then they are not good enough to ever get in the team.’
Johnson emphasized the need to rebuild the squad to push the starting XI forward. He believes without adequate backup, the team will continue to struggle.
Chelsea’s poor form has continued, with their sixth successive Premier League defeat coming against Nottingham Forest. The team now faces a tough challenge against Liverpool at Anfield.
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