Aston Villa will reportedly look to sign 23-year-old English striker Liam Delap from Chelsea in the summer transfer window.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, struggling Chelsea striker Liam Delap is the subject of interest from Aston Villa. The Villans are keen on reinforcing their offensive unit by signing a striker in the upcoming transfer window.
The latest report has revealed that the Premier League high-flyers are the best-placed club to land the Englishman in the coming months. Meanwhile, Chelsea will be open to sanctioning a loan exit for Delap to resurrect his stuttering fortunes and aid his growth.
How has Liam Delap performed for Chelsea?
Liam Delap has endured a frustrating journey since joining Chelsea from Ipswich Town in a deal worth €40 million last summer. The 23-year-old arrived at Stamford Bridge amid hype and fanfare surrounding him after the West London club paid a cost-effective fee to secure his services, as he was impressive for the Tractor Boys in the 2024/25 campaign. However, fitness issues have plagued the player for most of his debut season.
When Delap has not been in the treatment room, he has been behind Joao Pedro in the pecking order. The English striker managed only 1,283 minutes of game time in 33 appearances thus far for Chelsea this term, chipping in with two goals and four assists. However, the youngster’s stock remains high, with Aston Villa among the prospective suitors vying for his signature.
Move across the Premier League on the cards?
Liam Delap has been on Aston Villa’s wishlist for a long time. The continued interest is surprising, as the West Midlands outfit signed a striker earlier this year when Tammy Abraham arrived at Villa Park. With Ollie Watkins also in Unai Emery’s squad, it is unclear how Delap fits into the scheme of things.
Unless Delap or Abraham leaves Aston Villa in the summer transfer window, the Villans do not need another striker. Instead, they should focus on revamping their defensive unit and bolstering Emery’s creative options amid the over-dependence on Morgan Rogers in the final third.
Aston Villa will also need a goalkeeper, as widespread reports have linked Emiliano Martinez with a move away from the Birmingham-based club. So, while the report suggests the Villans are the best-placed entity to sign Delap, the 23-year-old Englishman should also work on joining another club, where he can get regular game time and rekindle his progress.
