Tottenham Hotspur are monitoring the situation of Chelsea forward Liam Delap this summer, according to insider Ben Jacobs. The club, under manager Roberto De Zerbi, are seeking to bolster their attacking options and could make a move for the 23-year-old, despite Delap’s desire to remain at Stamford Bridge.
Tottenham scored only 48 goals in the Premier League last season, finishing narrowly above the relegation zone, highlighting the need for attacking reinforcements. While the club is also linked with more established strikers like Dusan Vlahovic and Serhou Guirassy, Delap presents a potentially more affordable option.
Delap joined Chelsea last summer for a reported £30 million fee, but struggled to make a significant impact in his first season, scoring just two goals in 41 appearances across all competitions. He often played second fiddle to Joao Pedro in the Chelsea attack. Despite this, Tottenham were previously interested in Delap before his move to their London rivals.
Jacobs reports that Newcastle United and Everton are also interested in Delap, should new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso deem him surplus to requirements. The reporter indicated Delap’s future hinges on Alonso’s assessment of the squad and the roles of players like Nico Jackson, who is returning from a loan spell at Bayern Munich.
Delap’s situation is complicated by his wish to compete for a place at Chelsea, but if he becomes available, Tottenham will face competition from two other Premier League clubs. De Zerbi has already begun reshaping the Spurs squad with the free signings of Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi, and the expected arrival of Jan Paul van Hecke, and adding a striker is a priority. While Delap may not be a guaranteed goalscorer, a cut-price deal could represent good value. However, Tottenham are expected to pursue a more prolific forward, such as Vlahovic or Guirassy, alongside any potential move for Delap.
