Arjun Menon
| Prefer us on Google — see Tips.gg in Top Stories & Discover | Add on Google |
Chelsea have received a formal approach from Como for striker Liam Delap, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirming the Italian club have officially registered their interest.
Delap scored two penalties last weekend as Chelsea were held to a 3-3 draw by Johor Darul Ta’zim in a pre-season friendly. He is expected to feature in Saturday’s pre-season fixture against Real Sociedad.
Como’s Push and the BlueCo Connection
Como, who will compete in the Champions League next season, have submitted a formal bid for the 23-year-old. The club holds an established working relationship with Chelsea through the BlueCo ownership network, having recently signed Trevoh Chalobah and operating under the management of former Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas.
Chelsea are reported to be seeking a permanent sale rather than a loan. That preference is driven by squad registration constraints, with four of their six foreign slots potentially filled in the coming days. Strasbourg, the other BlueCo-affiliated club, are expected to occupy the remaining two spots.
Valuation Gap Poses a Problem
Chelsea paid £30m to sign Delap from Ipswich Town last summer and are insistent on recovering that fee. Delap managed just two goals across the entire season, the second coming against Fulham in January. With Joao Pedro, Danny Welbeck, and at least one of Emmanuel Emegha or Nicolas Jackson ranked ahead of him, his path to regular minutes at Stamford Bridge appears blocked.
Como are unlikely to meet a £30m asking price for a player Chelsea themselves consider surplus. A more pragmatic valuation from Chelsea would accelerate a deal, with a clean sale also allowing the club to focus on sending further players to Strasbourg, who are under pressure following a difficult start under new manager Hugo Oliveira.
Stay with TipsGG for the latest updates on this transfer and all Chelsea business as the window develops.