- Newcastle United want to sign Liam Delap from Chelsea
- English striker has really struggled at Stamford Bridge
- Signing Delap could be a costly transfer miss for Eddie Howe
Eddie Howe is set to oversee arguably his most important summer at Newcastle United and it’s safe to say the Magpies have a bit of work to do.
Anthony Gordon’s departure to Barcelona has already been confirmed, Kieran Trippier is close to joining Wolves on a free transfer and a handful of other players are set to leave after an underwhelming campaign on all fronts.
In attack, the likes of Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa have blown hot and cold, while Will Osula only came to life during the back end of the season.
Newcastle United need to sign an attacker or two in the summer to add more goals to their squad.
However, they should look beyond Liam Delap, who is struggling for form and consistency at Chelsea.
Newcastle United must stay clear of Liam Delap
Delap has been linked with a move to Newcastle United and could be on the move this summer.
Chelsea have appointed Xabi Alonso and it remains to be seen if the Spaniard has Delap in his plans, especially after his underwhelming debut campaign at Stamford Bridge.
The Magpies wanted him before his move to Chelsea, and if they want him this summer, he is set to cost around £40m.
And while that isn’t an outrageous fee to pay for an established Premier League striker, Newcastle would be making a mistake if they made a move for Delap.
The club have been crying out for a bonafide game changer in attack since Alexander Isak’s departure last summer.
Hugo Ekitike could have well been that man, but Liverpool got their hands on him as well, while Gordon’s recent departure has only left an even bigger hole to fill.
Delap is a decent player, but if he were to join the club now, would he even start ahead of Osula? Is it worth paying £40m for a player who wouldn’t even be a guaranteed starter?
The answer to all of these questions depends on the Newcastle hierarchy, but it is an overwhelming no from our side.
Delap’s stats this season
To put it bluntly, Delap’s stats this season make for truly horrific reading.
After swapping Ipswich Town for Chelsea, he has featured 41 times across all competitions for the Blues, scoring just twice.
| Competition | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Yellow Cards | Second Yellows | Red Cards | Minutes Played |
| Premier League | 28 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1,101′ |
| FA Cup | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 231′ |
| UEFA Champions League | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 184′ |
| EFL Cup | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 85′ |
| Total | 41 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1,601′ |
At the age of 23, he still has a lot of time to get back to his best and proved during his stint with Ipswich that he is more than capable of holding his own in the Premier League.
However, the move to Chelsea simply hasn’t worked out, as is the case for several young players who have followed the same path in recent years.
Delap needs to get his next move right to rejuvenate his career, but it certainly shouldn’t be on Tyneside as Newcastle are better off signing someone who brings guaranteed goals and success.
The previous summer transfer window didn’t go as planned for Howe, as his signings were a mixed bag to say the least.
And another transfer error or two could really prove to be costly for the boss, especially after the club’s 12th-place finish during the 2025-26 campaign.
