Chelsea have set a £50 million asking price for striker Liam Delap as they look to trim their squad ahead of the new season. The Blues are open to selling Delap just a year after activating his £30 million release clause to sign him from Ipswich Town.
The 23-year-old is attracting interest from a number of Premier League clubs, including Nottingham Forest and Everton. Delap endured a difficult debut campaign at Stamford Bridge, netting just two goals in all competitions as Chelsea finished outside the European places and lost the FA Cup final to Manchester City.
Pre-season struggles and potential exits
Delap has since struggled to impress Xabi Alonso during pre-season and is now one of several first-team players who could leave the club before the transfer window closes on September 1. A permanent exit is expected for Delap should a club come close to matching Chelsea’s valuation.
Chelsea are also looking to offload several other strikers, with Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu subject of both loan and permanent interest. The Blues have a number of centre-backs on their books that they are trying to move on before the end of the transfer window.
Defensive departures and young talents
The club are negotiating the exits of Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi, while Tosin Adarabioyo is reportedly attracting interest. The futures of youngsters Mamadou Sarr and Aaron Anselmino are also in doubt, with Alonso yet to decide whether they will stay at the club this season or head on loan.
Standard Sport reported last month that Chelsea were keen to send Sarr on loan in the Premier League, but Anselmino may stay put after he suffered a suspected hamstring injury during the final game of their pre-season tour last week.
