Why Liam Delap Needs to Quickly Establish Himself as Chelsea’s Key Attacker

Ipswich Town’s return to the Premier League may have been brief, lasting only a single season after a 22-year absence, but one of the bright spots during a challenging campaign was the performance of their striker, Liam Delap.

The 22-year-old plays in a relatively traditional centre-forward role, making a significant impact by storming through opposition defences and netting 12 of Ipswich’s 36 goals in the 2024/25 season.

While it’s commonly perceived that today’s strikers require a more diverse skill set, Delap has demonstrated that there’s still a vital place on the pitch for players solely focused on finding the back of the net.

While his style of play might not be overly flashy, it doesn’t diminish Delap’s potential; he appears destined for a successful career in football. Throughout 90 minutes of action, he keeps defenders on edge with relentless pressure and physicality.

Chelsea outbid Premier League rivals to secure Delap

Chelsea evidently recognised his talent enough to invest £30 million to make him their first summer acquisition, with Manchester United, Newcastle, and Everton also reportedly keen on signing him.

“I recognise the significance of this club and am excited about its direction under the current players and head coach,” Delap stated after signing.

“This is going to be a fantastic environment for my development, and I aspire to contribute to the club’s trophy haul.”

It’s anticipated that Delap won’t be making the move to Stamford Bridge to warm the bench.

Chelsea’s forwards struggled in 2024/25

Nicolas Jackson was the preferred forward for Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca during the 2024/25 season, yet he netted only 10 goals along with five assists. Meanwhile, Christopher Nkunku failed to find his form in west London, finishing with just seven goals from 31 appearances, making him a likely candidate for criticism.

Delap’s ability to hold up play and involve teammates is top-notch, and his physical presence ought to ensure he wins a higher percentage of headers than he loses.

With Cole Palmer finishing as Chelsea’s top scorer with 15 goals and assisting 12 times, it’s clear why the club has moved swiftly to secure a reliable goalscorer that can leverage his unique skill set.

A player who won 61 aerial duels last season ideally suits the needs of his Chelsea teammates; however, intriguing to note is that none of Delap’s 12 goals came from headers. Eleven were scored from within the box, highlighting his goal-scoring acumen; nonetheless, this is a misuse of one of his key attributes.

Delap should target 20+ goals a season

With Palmer, Marc Cucurella, and Noni Madueke poised to provide a stream of goal-scoring opportunities, expectations are understandably high that Delap will enhance his goal count.

Given that he won’t be expected to constantly create chances himself, a notable increase in his goal tally is on the cards.

In fact, he should aim to score over 20 goals in a team set up to harness his strengths.

This expectation brings its own pressures; however, considering Delap’s performances for Ipswich and his willingness to shoulder responsibility, it seems likely he will embrace this added attention.

“He strives to better himself each day and embraces the challenges that come with playing in the Premier League,” commented Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna about the striker last season.

“I’ve had discussions with him regarding the significance of being the leading figure in a team that has recently achieved promotion, and it carries substantial responsibility. He’s handling it day-by-day and keeping his focus on the immediate tasks at hand, which is the correct mindset.”

Chelsea must ensure Delap becomes the central point of attack

Delap boasted a shooting accuracy of 60.4% in McKenna’s emerging side during the 2024/25 season, higher than both Jackson (54.7%) and Nkunku (60%). His 32 shots on target standard also outperformed Nkunku’s 20 and was just shy of Jackson’s 36.

If he can maintain this performance level in a team focused on avoiding relegation, imagine the potential he has with a squad aiming for the top prizes.

Enzo Maresca must view him as a pivotal element in Chelsea’s attack going forward as well.

He is a striker adept at playing with his back to goal or positioning himself just behind the final defender, making his blend of strength and skill a long-overdue asset for the Blues.

With his combination of power, speed, and goal-scoring instinct, it’s highly probable that Delap may finally be the key ingredient that his manager has been searching for.

As the new season beckons, the opportunities ahead look bright for him.