Liam Delap shown perfect Chelsea escape route this summer after nightmare season

Chelsea striker Liam Delap has been tipped to rejoin Ipswich Town this summer if the Tractor Boys get promoted.

The 23-year-old swapped Portman Road for Stamford Bridge last summer in a £30million move.

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But his first season with the Blues has been a nightmare.

Delap has scored just three times in 42 appearances, most recently drawing a blank while playing during Chelsea’s humiliating 3-0 defeat at Brighton on Tuesday night.

While the Englishman has been hampered by injuries, our Inside Chelsea panel has already seen enough.

Speaking on this week’s episode, Blues broadcaster Matisse Armani said: “It’s difficult. He is not of the level to be at Chelsea and he’s taken a massive step too far forward, which is our fault taking him from Ipswich all the way to Chelsea.

“He could’ve easily fit into a team like Brentford. As a striker at that age, you need consistent minutes. You need momentum, confidence, touches, chemistry.

“When I look at our previous ‘depth’ strikers, like Loic Remy, Demba Ba, Didier Drogba when he came back – they were seasoned. They had been around the block and scored a lot of goals in their career.

“Coming off the bench and impacting games when you’ve not been in the swing of things consistently, that’s a special role to play.

“To ask him to play that role, when he’s never played it, is ludicrous.

“He needs to be moved on this summer and play regular football.”

Back to Portman Road?

talkSPORT understands Chelsea are open to offers for Delap this summer, with Newcastle showing an early interest.

And Inside Chelsea host Olivia Buzaglo suggested Delap could make a return to Ipswich this summer.

Delap, who began at Man City before his Ipswich transfer in 2024, was a shining light for the Tractor Boys during their 2024/25 Premier League campaign, despite relegation.

Ipswich are currently second in the Championship with four games to play, leaving automatic promotion very much in their hands.

Buzaglo said: “If Ipswich do come up to the Premier League, that may be a loan move Chelsea look at.

“It may be that Delap needs to go and play football.”

No depth

Meanwhile, ex-Blues defender Jason Cundy argued the problem lies at the heart of Chelsea’s recruitment strategy, suggesting the club have failed to build strength in depth.

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Cundy said: “The squad has holes, and moving forward, the recruitment team need to look at who can step up and replace first-team players.

“Who is our back-up No.9? It’s Delap. And he’s struggling.

“I feel for him – he’s had injuries and he’s come in to a big club.

“But it’s a very different set-up to when he was at Ipswich in the Premier League.”