Leeds United and Nottingham Forest have reportedly joined Everton in the race to sign Chelsea striker Liam Delap, with the Blues placing a £50m valuation on the 23-year-old.
Transfer journalist Ben Jacobs revealed the interest on Thursday, with all three Premier League clubs looking at potential additions to their forward lines before the summer window closes.
Leeds United have already seen Joel Piroe leave for West Ham after he slipped down the pecking order at Elland Road, leaving Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha as Daniel Farke’s main senior options through the middle.
Forest have also created some room in attack after allowing Taiwo Awoniyi to join newly-promoted Coventry City for around £9m. Chris Wood, Igor Jesus and Arnaud Kalimuendo remain available to new manager Oliver Glasner, although another striker would provide some much-needed cover for 35-year-old Wood.
Everton already have Beto and Thierno Barry, who combined for 17 Premier League goals last season, but David Moyes remains in the market for attacking reinforcements as the Toffees look to improve on last season’s 13th-place finish.
🚨 Exclusive: Leeds and Nottingham Forest join the race for Chelsea striker Liam Delap. Everton also keen.
Chelsea sources say £50m asking price. Clubs believe £40m possible.
🤝 @alex_crook
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Liam Delap’s future at Stamford Bridge looks increasingly uncertain following a difficult first full season with Chelsea, with the striker now also training away from the main first-team group as the club work to trim their squad. João Pedro has taken the No.9 shirt previously worn by Delap, who has been handed No.12 ahead of the new campaign.
Delap joined Chelsea from Ipswich Town for £30m in the summer of 2025 after emerging as one of the few major positives from the Tractor Boys’ relegation campaign. He scored 12 goals in 37 Premier League appearances despite playing for a side that spent almost the entire season battling at the wrong end of the table.
His first full campaign at Chelsea was considerably less productive, with Delap managing just one Premier League goal from 28 appearances. Across all competitions he made 41 appearances, only 16 of them starts, and finished with two goals and three assists as regular football proved difficult to come by.
That Ipswich season should ensure there is still plenty of interest in a powerful 23-year-old striker who has already shown he can score Premier League goals, but Chelsea’s valuation looks ambitious after a year in which his stock has hardly risen.
A £50m fee would represent a £20m profit on a player Chelsea signed only last summer, while even the £40m figure clubs reportedly believe could secure a deal feels steep as a guaranteed payment.
For Leeds, Forest or Everton, something closer to £30m-£35m up front with achievable add-ons taking the eventual package higher would appear a more realistic structure, particularly with Chelsea seemingly keen to moving Delap on before the window closes.
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