LIAM DELAP’S first major test at Chelsea won’t be on the pitch – it’ll benavigating a club versus country row.
are closing in on the£30million striker having already agreed personal terms.
And they want him available for theClub World Cupthis summer.
But that tournament clashes with England’s plans to include him in their squad for theUefa Under-21 European Championship, which kicks off onJune 12.
scored 12 goals and provided two assistsfor relegated last season and his performances look to have secured a move to the capital.
But he’s about to get mixed up in some of the unwanted politicsof the Beautiful Game.
Delap reportedly had offers from, ,andChelsea.
But journalistBen Jacobs is reporting that thatconvinced him aChampions League platformwould boost his chances of makingEngland’s 2026 World Cup squad.
Chelsea, fresh off winning theEuropa Conference League, have wasted no timesplashing the cashon Delap.
United were believed to befront-runnersto land the England Under-21 star.
But adisastrous end to their season– in contrast to Chelsea’s strong finish – is understood to havetipped the balance.
Delap was also coached byduring his time at City’s academy, whileJoe Shields– now at Chelsea – played a key role in bringing him from Derby to City back in 2019.
SunSport understandsall these factors played a key role inconvincing one of England’s brightest young talentsto join Chelsea.
But, as with every top club, Delap will need to get used to being at the heart ofclub vs country tug-of-warswhenever international and domestic dutiesoverlap.
Chelsea have hadNicolas Jacksonleading the line over the last two seasons but he has failed to fully convince fans he is the man to take them forward.
