Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has publicly endorsed new signing Liam Delap, predicting the 22-year-old striker will become England's next number nine. Delap, who recently joined Chelsea from Ipswich Town in a £30 million deal, is poised to make his debut at the Club World Cup in Atlanta. Maresca's confidence in Delap stems from their previous success together at Manchester City's Under-23s, where Delap consistently found the net.
Maresca's High Praise for Delap
“I said Liam can be England's number nine when we faced Ipswich,” Maresca stated. “Now he is a Chelsea player, I'm going to say again, I don't have any doubt that he can be in the future England number nine.” He further emphasized their successful history: “We won with Manchester City's Under-23s - he scored 24, 25 goals that season - so he knows exactly what we can give him, I know what Liam can give us. It's a win-win.”
Competition for Starting Spot
Despite Maresca's strong belief in Delap, the young forward faces competition from Nicolas Jackson for a starting role in Chelsea's attack. Maresca has not confirmed whether Delap will start in their Club World Cup opener against Los Angeles FC. Additionally, Maresca indicated the need for a new left winger, particularly after Chelsea opted not to sign Jadon Sancho.
Breaking the Number 9 Curse?
Delap is reportedly unfazed by the supposed “curse” associated with Chelsea's number 9 shirt, which has remained vacant since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's departure. He is eager to make the shirt his own and inject more ruthlessness into Chelsea's attack, which has struggled with finishing in recent seasons. Romelu Lukaku and Fernando Torres are examples of high-profile number 9s who failed to live up to expectations at Stamford Bridge.
Delap's Chance to Shine
The Club World Cup provides Delap with an immediate opportunity to showcase his talent and justify Maresca's faith. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, his performance will be closely scrutinized as he aims to establish himself as a key player for Chelsea and a potential future star for England.
- Delap joined Chelsea for £30 million.
- Maresca believes he can be England's future number nine.
- Faces competition from Nicolas Jackson.