Liam Delap makes preference clear as Chelsea demand £40million amid Champions League interest

Liam Delap wants to stay in the Premier League amid interest from Como, talkSPORT understands.

The Chelsea striker has been told he can leave Stamford Bridge this summer, as the club look to trim down their huge first-team squad.

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After his £30million arrival from Ipswich last summer, Delap endured a nightmare debut season in west London.

The 23-year-old struck just once in the Premier League and twice overall in an injury-hit campaign.

Chelsea now appear keen to cash in on him before the transfer window’s September 1st deadline, especially following the arrival of Danny Welbeck from Brighton.

Ciao ciao?

Having drawn Premier League interest from Newcastle and Everton, Delap has now emerged as a target for Italian side Como.

talkSPORT understands Chelsea are demanding £40m for Delap, which would represent a £10m profit for the west Londoners.

However, Como might struggle to strike up a deal for the Englishman, who wants to stay in the Premier League.

That’s despite a move to Italy offering Delap the chance to play Champions League football.

The Serie A side are managed by former Blues star Cesc Fabregas, and sealed qualification for Europe’s premier competition with a fourth-place finish in Serie A last term.

Chelsea, meanwhile, won’t be playing in Europe altogether after finishing a disappointing 10th in the 2025/26 Premier League season.

Como have already signed one player from the Blues this summer having snapped up defender Trevoh Chalobah earlier this month.

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Back to the drawing board

With Delap appearing unwilling to leave English football, this considerably narrows down where he could go next.

While Newcastle and Everton have both been credited with interest, this hasn’t progressed into any concrete offers.

But it remains likely that Delap’s future lies away from Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea keen to reduce their attacking options this summer.

The arrival of Danny Welbeck from Brighton bolstered the Blues forward line, which also boasts 15-goal striker Joao Pedro from last season.

As well as Welbeck, the Blues have signed Emmanuel Emegha from Strasbourg – though the Netherlands international could already be on his way out of Stamford Bridge, albeit not permanently.

With new boss Xabi Alonso clear on who he wants to keep, Chelsea are also looking to sell Nicolas Jackson, who is linked with Aston Villa.

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As for Delap, he is looking for a move that will see him get back to the form that made Chelsea shell out £30m to sign him from Ipswich.

He scored 12 goals in 2024/25 – the Tractor Boys’ first campaign back in the top flight – so he has shown he can cut it at this level and that he could be a very handy addition for another club.

Delap must also have his international career in mind, having represented England up to under-21 level.

The Manchester City youth product has yet to be called up to the Three Lions senior squad, however.

The frontman is also eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland through his ancestry, with his father – Premier League cult hero Rory Delap – earning 11 caps for the country.