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CHELSEA HAVE AGREED A DEAL TO SIGN IPSWICH TOWN STRIKER LIAM DELAP AFTER ACTIVATING HIS £30M RELEASE CLAUSE, FENDING OFF COMPETITION FROM SEVERAL PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS 18:00, 30 May 2025

Chelsea are on the brink of securing Liam Delap from Ipswich Town after the striker decided to snub a move to Newcastle United due to three reasons. _CHRONICLELIVE_ has learned that the

Blues have settled on a deal to acquire the 22-year-old, having met his £30million release clause in the wake of the Tractor Boys' relegation back to the Championship. Delap has been

highly sought-after, with numerous Premier League clubs expressing interest in the forward, yet Chelsea have successfully outmanoeuvred their rivals for his services. The forward has burst

on to the Premier League scene over the last 10 months, showcasing his running power and eye for goal after moving from Man City. Newcastle had been keen on Delap, offering him the chance to

challenge Alexander Isak for a role leading the Magpies' attack as well as forging a potential strike partnership with the Swede. But, according to football.london, Delap has opted for

a move to Stamford Bridge over other options due to Enzo Maresca's style of play, the existing quality within the squad and a firm conviction that the club can vie for top honours in

the forthcoming seasons. Article continues below At a price tag of £30m, most clubs saw the signing as a steal and an absolute no-brainer, viewing Delap as a player brimming with potential.

However, with interest from Man United, Everton and Nottingham Forest, the England Under-21 international had his pick of options but also viewed his chances of leading the line in a

Champions League side as being best served with Chelsea. It is anticipated that Maresca will alternate between Delap and Nicolas Jackson the next season as Chelsea aim to compete across all

four fronts. Maresca and Delap share a history from their time at Manchester City's academy system, with the soon-to-be Chelsea striker also having previously played alongside Cole

Palmer and Romeo Lavia. Delap is eager to further his progress at Chelsea and will be vying for Thomas Tuchel's notice ahead of the World Cup next summer. Chelsea also have a strong

interest in Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike, although the Blues have expressed reservations about the Frenchman's asking price. The German club is reportedly seeking

approximately £84m for the young striker who turned Newcastle down three years ago to sign for Paris St Germain. Ekitike has also caught the eye of Premier League champions Liverpool.

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