Chelsea’s pursuit of Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap could face a major setback, with Manchester City in a strong position to re-sign the 21-year-old due to a £20 million buy-back clause. Delap, who joined Ipswich for an initial £15 million earlier this summer, has impressed with his performances this season, scoring six goals and providing one assist in 12 Premier League appearances.
Chelsea, keen on bolstering their attacking options, are reportedly interested in Delap. However, Manchester City holds the option to trigger the buy-back clause, which could complicate Chelsea’s plans. Delap had been a prolific figure in City’s youth ranks, scoring 46 goals and providing 16 assists in age-group competitions before making a handful of senior appearances.
In other news, former Aston Villa forward Gabriel Agbonlahor has urged Chelsea to strengthen their defense in the upcoming January transfer window. Chelsea’s defense has been leaky this season, conceding 14 goals in 12 Premier League games, and Agbonlahor emphasized that the team’s defensive frailties could hinder their top-four aspirations. He suggested that Chelsea should prioritize signing a new goalkeeper and a few defenders to tighten up at the back.
