Chelsea striker Liam Delap could be on the move again this summer, with Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest reportedly among the clubs monitoring his situation after he fell out of favor at Stamford Bridge.
The 23-year-old forward has been displaced from Chelsea's starting striker role by Joao Pedro and now finds himself training separately from the main first-team group under head coach Xabi Alonso, a clear indication that the club may be willing to let him leave before the transfer window closes.
Delap's difficult first season in west London saw him manage just a single Premier League goal, a disappointing return for a player who arrived with plenty of promise. His struggles have only been compounded by Alonso's arrival, with the new manager apparently not viewing him as part of his immediate plans up front.
Interest from Ipswich carries a certain symmetry, given the Suffolk club sold Delap to Chelsea for £30 million last year following their relegation from the Premier League. Should the Tractor Boys move to bring him back, it would mark a swift return to a club where he built his reputation before making the step up to a bigger stage.
Nottingham Forest are also said to be weighing up a potential deal, joining Ipswich in a list of Premier League sides keeping tabs on the striker's situation as Chelsea look to trim their squad.
Delap is not the only forward at Chelsea whose future looks uncertain. Nicolas Jackson, who spent last season away on loan at Bayern Munich, remains available for transfer as well. The Senegal international has reportedly caught the attention of Atletico Madrid, who are said to be exploring a possible move for him amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding Julian Alvarez's own future at the Spanish club.
With both Delap and Jackson finding themselves on the periphery of Alonso's plans, Chelsea appear ready to sanction departures from their striker department this summer as the club continues to reshape its squad. The presence of Joao Pedro as the preferred No. 9 has clearly shifted the pecking order, leaving both forwards searching for regular football elsewhere.
For Delap in particular, a return to a familiar environment such as Ipswich, or a fresh challenge at a club like Forest, could provide the platform he needs to rebuild momentum after a taxing debut campaign in the Premier League with Chelsea. Both suitors will be aware of the qualities that made him such an attractive target for Chelsea in the first place, even if his time at Stamford Bridge did not go according to plan.
As the transfer window progresses, further clarity is expected on the futures of both Delap and Jackson, with Chelsea seemingly open to business involving either forward. Ipswich and Forest's interest in Delap will likely intensify as clubs across the Premier League look to strengthen their attacking options before the market closes.
Based on reporting from The Independent.