Former Premier League winger Gabriel Agbonlahor has voiced his opinion on Liam Delap’s transfer to Chelsea. Agbonlahor believes Delap should have considered a different club before making the jump to Stamford Bridge.
Delap’s Transfer to Chelsea
Chelsea activated Liam Delap’s £30 million release clause from Ipswich Town last summer. This decision came after Delap’s impressive performance in the previous season, where he scored 12 goals for a struggling Ipswich squad. Despite finishing second from bottom in the Premier League, Delap’s talents caught the attention of several top clubs.
- Former Teams: Ipswich Town, Manchester City (Academy Graduate)
- Transfer Fee: £30 million
- Goals at Ipswich: 12 in Premier League
Agbonlahor’s Criticism
Agbonlahor suggested that Delap may have rushed into a move to Chelsea. He pointed out that the competition in Enzo Maresca’s squad could hinder Delap’s opportunities for game time. Instead, he believes that a spell at a club like Everton might have provided valuable experience and goals before making a move to a top club.
“I’m not sure about Liam Delap at the moment,” Agbonlahor stated. “He might have missed the trick by not going to a lesser club first. Could he have not gone to an Everton, scored 15-20 goals, and then made the jump to Chelsea?”
Delap’s Challenges at Chelsea
Since joining Chelsea, Delap has struggled to find his form. It took him eight matches to score his first goal, which came during a Champions League victory over Barcelona. However, his start in London has been marred by fitness issues.
- Games Played: 8
- First Goal: 3-0 win against Barcelona
- Injury-Related Absence: Nearly two months
Managerial Concerns
Enzo Maresca has been critical of Delap’s performances, particularly after a red card in his first match back from injury. Maresca labeled the incident as “embarrassing,” emphasizing the need for Delap to maintain composure on the pitch.
“A stupid foul,” Maresca said of the red card. “After the yellow card, I told him multiple times to stay calm. He sometimes plays the game for himself and doesn’t see the others around him.”
Upcoming Challenges for Chelsea
As Chelsea prepares for a crucial London derby against Arsenal, the pressure is mounting on Maresca and his squad. Chelsea slipped to third in the Premier League standings following Manchester City’s recent victory. The match against Arsenal presents an opportunity to reclaim second place while narrowing the gap at the top.
Despite Chelsea’s solid start to the season, analysts like Chris Sutton predict difficulty against Arsenal. “Arsenal will likely overpower Chelsea and win comfortably,” Sutton remarked, highlighting the Gunners’ strong performance against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
While Liam Delap faces challenges at Chelsea, his trajectory will heavily depend on his adaptability and development in the coming matches.
