Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was full of praise for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap ahead of this weekend’s showdown at Stamford Bridge.
The England U21 forward has been a bright spot in a troubled season for the Tractor Boys who occupy the 18th position on the English Premier League standings, 12 points adrift of safety.
Delap has scored 12 league goals this season and could secure a move away from Portman Road in the summer, with a £30 million price tag if the club succumbs to relegation to the second division.
Speaking in his prematch conference ahead of his side’s must-win encounter against the relegation-threatened side, Maresca lauded Delap’s quality and playing style.
Maresca said: “In terms of numbers, he’s doing fantastic. It’s not just in terms of his numbers. The way he plays and fights and is always ‘there’. But he’s an Ipswich player.
He’s an enemy on Sunday because we need to beat them, and then after the game I wish him all the best for the future. He’s already very good. I know Liam from five, six years ago. He can be a top player, it all depends on him.”
Delap’s form has attracted interest from top Premier League sides with the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea all jostling for his signature.
Maresca who previously worked with the 22-year old at Manchester City’s youth team, also gave his opinion on the striker’s comparison to other strikers in the world, while reaffirming his support for Blues forward Nicolas Jackson.
“To compare Liam [Delap] with Harry Kane and Erling Haaland, I think it’s a bit early. But for sure, in terms of style he’s that kind of player. They are all real nines. They are nines inside the box.
We also have a good nine [in Jackson]. He’s doing well since we started. Unfortunately, we’ve missed him, and sometimes you need to miss players to realise how important they are for you”, the former Leicester City boss added.
“With Nico, we are a completely different team compared to when he was injured. We are happy with Nico as our striker.”
Chelsea are fourth in the Premier League and host 18th-placed Ipswich Town on Sunday, before facing Legia Warsaw in the second leg of their UEFA Conference League quarterfinal tie with a 3-0 advantage.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
