Delap challenged to earn No. 9 after Chelsea move

Published: Monday, June 16, 2025 at 5:05 am

**Chelsea's New Striker Faces Competition for Starting Spot**

Chelsea's recent acquisition, Liam Delap, is poised to make his debut for the Blues in the FIFA Club World Cup opener against LAFC. The 22-year-old striker completed a 30 million move from Ipswich Town earlier this month, beating out competition from clubs like Manchester United.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who previously coached Delap at Manchester City, believes Delap has the potential to become England's leading striker. Maresca has expressed confidence in Delap's abilities, stating he could potentially be England's number nine in the future. However, Maresca emphasized that Delap must earn his place in the Chelsea lineup. He highlighted the importance of hard work and dedication, suggesting Delap needs to outperform other players vying for the same position.

Delap's familiarity with Maresca's coaching style, stemming from their time together at Manchester City's under-23 team, where Delap scored a significant number of goals, played a role in his decision to join Chelsea. Maresca believes the move is mutually beneficial, with Delap understanding what the club can offer him and vice versa.

Delap has been given the coveted number nine shirt, a number that has proven challenging for several high-profile players at Chelsea in recent years. Despite this, Maresca remains optimistic, noting Delap's relaxed demeanor and strong work ethic since joining the team. Midfielder Moiss Caicedo has also expressed his support for Delap, praising his quality and predicting a positive impact on the team's goal-scoring ability.

BNN's Perspective:

While the potential is certainly there, it's important to temper expectations. Delap's success will depend on his ability to adapt to the demands of playing for a top-tier club like Chelsea. The competition for the starting spot will be fierce, and he will need to prove himself on the field.

Keywords:

Liam Delap, Chelsea, Enzo Maresca, England, striker, FIFA Club World Cup, Ipswich Town, Manchester United, Harry Kane, Moiss Caicedo, number nine, transfer, football, soccer, Premier League

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