Alan Shearer has told Liam Delap to think carefully over his next move, insisting the striker's switch to Chelsea from Ipswich Town last season was a poor decision and that a club like Newcastle United would be the ideal next step this summer.
Delap surplus at Chelsea
Newcastle were keen to sign the England Under-21 striker last summer, but he opted for a move to Stamford Bridge, a decision that has backfired when it comes to playing time and goals. Delap is now surplus to requirements under new manager Xabi Alonso and is training separately from the main squad ahead of an expected exit.
Newcastle have again been linked with a move, along with Everton and Nottingham Forest, but Chelsea's £40m price tag has meant no offers have been forthcoming.
Shearer's verdict
Shearer, a United legend, feels the move to London was never going to work for the 23-year-old, but that a switch to a club like Newcastle this summer would be the ideal next step.
"I thought it was a poor move for him going to Chelsea anyway, because he was never ever going to be the number one choice there," Shearer told Betfair. "It would have been far better off going to another Premier League club where he was going to play regularly and gain more experience and gain more minutes."
"His next move is really important. But I think the move he makes now will probably be the move he should have made before Chelsea. So, he's lost a year of valuable learning time. But there's no doubt there's talent in there. It's whether someone can get it out of him."
Important year ahead
Shearer added: "We've seen the talent at Ipswich, so there's definitely something in there. So, it's a really important move for him and a really important year because he has to get out and he has to play."
"Clearly that's not going to happen at Chelsea. So wherever he goes, I think you'll see a better Delap this season."
"Wherever he goes, first of all he has to play and play regularly, as tough as that will be because he didn't play a lot last season and there will be frustration there."
"I don't think he will go to a top six club, so I guess it will be a mid-range team that could push for European football. You could look at Aston Villa, Newcastle or someone like that. It all just depends on how much Chelsea are looking to get for him."
