{"id":5805,"date":"2026-05-08T09:37:56","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T09:37:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=5805"},"modified":"2026-05-08T09:37:56","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T09:37:56","slug":"alan-smith-backs-chelsea-to-sell-liam-delap-this-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=5805","title":{"rendered":"Alan Smith backs Chelsea to sell Liam Delap this summer"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Chelsea will look to cut their losses and sell Liam Delap this summer according to former Arsenal striker Alan Smith.<\/p>\n

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The Blues fought off interest from a number of Premier League clubs to sign Delap for \u00a330m from Ipswich last summer.<\/p>\n

However, it\u2019s been a really tough season for Delap, and he\u2019s managed just two goals in 38 appearances in all competitions, with one of those coming in the league.<\/p>\n

Alan Smith tips Chelsea to sell Liam Delap this summer<\/h2>\n

Delap last scored in a 2-1 defeat against Fulham in January, a run stretching over 20 matches, whilst his other goal came against Barcelona in November.<\/p>\n

The 23-year-old has provided little in the way of competition for Joao Pedro, and with Emmanuel Emegha arriving from Strasbourg in the summer he faces more competition next season.<\/p>\n

Injuries haven\u2019t helped, but when he\u2019s played he\u2019s simply been nowhere near the standard expected or required.<\/p>\n

Newcastle are reportedly willing to explore a move for Delap, and Smith has tipped Chelsea to cut their losses this summer.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it\u2019s certainly not worked for him at Chelsea, i<\/span>t\u2019s not been easy circumstances at all,\u201d he said as quoted by Metro.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe club has been in turmoil, really. He doesn\u2019t look like a Chelsea player. He\u2019s got some rough edges there.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether they could be knocked off, I don\u2019t know. But he suited Ipswich a bit better. I still think he could join a mid to maybe a European challenging team.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I think sometimes he gets too involved in the physical side of things, and he\u2019s a little bit mouthy as well. He got booked again the other day for dissent.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe that\u2019s a bit of frustration showing, but he would regard it as a failure, I\u2019m sure, to go back to Ipswich. But who knows?<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Chelsea might think they can get him out and get somebody else in.\u201d<\/p>\n

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In other news\u2026<\/h2>\n

Chelsea are facing an injury crisis ahead of Saturday\u2019s game against Liverpool with Jesse Derry ruled out for the remainder of the season.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Calum McFarlane confirmed Robert Sanchez would also miss the game, whilst it\u2019s unlikely Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho will feature.<\/p>\n

That leaves Chelsea with no fit senior wingers and what could be a makeshift lineup for an important visit to Anfield.<\/p>\n

Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips\u2019 SPTC podcast here:<\/em><\/p>\n