Premier League side Chelsea are nearing the signing of Ipswich striker Liam Delap, with several sources reporting that the Blues have triggered the £30 million release clause for the English youngster.
Personal terms are already in place, and a medical has been arranged, with reports indicating that Enzo Maresca and Joe Shields — both of whom previously worked with Delap at Manchester City — played a significant role in securing the deal. The opportunity to feature in the Champions League was also a major draw for the 22-year-old.
With the deal all but done, pending only the medical and final contract signing, questions now turn to Chelsea’s plans for the remainder of the transfer window. Has their pursuit of Victor Osimhen come to an end? Will they move for another striker? And are they genuinely content with relying solely on Delap and Nicolas Jackson as their main attacking options?
From the perspective of Chelsea supporters, the club should still be targeting a more experienced striker to strengthen the squad, particularly with Champions League football on the horizon next season.
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It is evident that a large section of the fanbase has lost faith in Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson who was signed from Villarreal, with his red card against Newcastle in Chelsea’s 2-0 loss viewed by many as the final breaking point.
The Chelsea board, however, are eager to avoid repeating past mistakes — signing a high-earning player who may underperform and ultimately has to be sold at a significant loss, negatively impacting the club’s financial stability.
For example, Romelu Lukaku was signed by Chelsea in 2021 for €115 million (around £98 million). However, after a disappointing stint, he was loaned out to Inter Milan and Roma before eventually being sold to Napoli in 2024 for a fixed fee of €30 million (approximately £26 million).
Similarly, Raheem Sterling was brought in from Manchester City for £45 million and became the club’s highest-paid player. But, he too failed to meet expectations and spent last season on loan at Arsenal. Following an underwhelming stint, he is now expected to be sold this summer.
Although Chelsea are clearly interested in Victor Osimhen, their hesitation to repeat past errors has hindered any serious move for the Nigerian striker. Reports suggest Osimhen is demanding €12 million net per year — the same salary he earned at Napoli after signing his contract extension.
For context, Osimhen’s wage demand of €12 million net per year equates to approximately £19.25 million gross annually, or around £370,000 per week. This would make him the highest earner at Chelsea and the third-highest paid player in the Premier League, behind only Mohamed Salah (£400,000 per week) and Erling Haaland (£525,000 per week).
Nonetheless, many Chelsea supporters argue that past mistakes shouldn’t dictate current decisions — especially when it involves a player of Victor Osimhen’s calibre.
Fans have long drawn comparisons between the Nigerian striker and club legend Didier Drogba, with many believing Osimhen has the potential to replicate the impact Drogba had during his time at Stamford Bridge.
Osimhen is also regarded as a proven winner, having played a key role in Napoli’s historic Serie A triumph — their first since 1990 — before making the loan move to Galatasaray, where he helped the club secure their 25th Süper Lig title and win the Turkish Cup for the first time since 2019.
His accomplishments have led many to believe that he could be the player to lead Chelsea back to the top, helping the club compete for and potentially win the Premier League for the first time since their 2017 triumph under Antonio Conte.
Despite these valid arguments, Chelsea fans may have to accept that a move for Osimhen is unlikely, especially with the imminent arrival of Liam Delap. The young striker was likely assured of regular first-team opportunities before agreeing to join the London club, which could signal the end of Chelsea’s pursuit of another high-profile forward this summer.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Blues are still weighing up a potential pre-agreement for Strasbourg striker Emanuel Emegha to join in 2026.
With Nicolas Jackson still in the squad, Marc Guiu’s future yet to be decided, and academy talents like Shim Mheuka and Tyrique George — who featured as a false nine last season — also in the picture, it’s becoming increasingly unlikely that Chelsea will add Victor Osimhen to their already extensive list of striking options.
However, Osimhen himself is not short of suitors, with Juventus, Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Saudi clubs all maintaining interest in the Nigerian forward. Given the unpredictable nature of the transfer market, a surprise bid from another club cannot be ruled out either.
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