Everton have identified Chelsea striker Liam Delap as a leading target, and they are now seriously considering launching a move.
After joining the Blues from Ipswich Town for £30m last summer, Delap struggled to make an impact, scoring just one Premier League goal, while he also missed 15 matches in all competitions due to injuries and illness.
However, the centre-forward still managed to impress at times, receiving plaudits from former Manchester City defender Micah Richards after putting in a solid performance against Hull City in the FA Cup, in which his side emerged as 4-0 winners.
Richards said: “I think Liam Delap’s game was brilliant. What I liked about it, is when Hull set up in this five, Delap was thinking if he could get into the space.”
Ex-Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Michael Brown also added: “Delap can do anything. He is like a throwback and is that all-around number nine. He is very effective when he is on his game. He is good in the air, he can hold the ball up well, he can defend and he can finish.”
Having scored 12 goals in 37 Premier League games for Ipswich during the 2024-25 campaign, the 23-year-old clearly has the ability to excel in the top flight, and David Moyes is known to be a big fan.
Everton plotting move for Liam Delap
According to a report from Sports Boom, Everton are now seriously considering making an approach for Delap, as Moyes has been an admirer of his ‘physical presence, tireless work rate and ability to occupy defenders’ for quite some time.
Signing a new centre-forward is a priority for the Toffees this summer, with Thierno Barry bagging just eight goals in all competitions during his debut campaign in England, and the Chelsea striker is now one of their leading targets.
Indeed, Barry has struggled since arriving from Villarreal, averaging 0.38 goals per 90 in the Premier League last season, which was significantly below Beto’s average of 0.52.
However, Delap may not be the solution, considering the Englishman has only really had one clinical league campaign in front of goal since spending the 2022-23 season on loan at Stoke City and Preston North End in the Championship.
|
Liam Delap’s attacking record |
Appearances |
Goals |
|
2022-23 |
37 |
4 |
|
2023-24 |
31 |
8 |
|
2024-25 |
37 |
12 |
|
2025-26 |
28 |
1 |
Of course, the former Manchester City man is still young at 23-years-old, but his goal record means it would be a gamble for Everton to bring him in, and an alternative option has been identified.
Everton readying offer for Dusan Vlahovic
Everton are now considering launching an official bid for striker Dusan Vlahovic, who is available on a free transfer as his Juventus contract has now expired.
Vlahovic is far more experienced than Delap, scoring 94 goals in 221 Serie A matches, while he has also found the net on 16 occasions in 41 appearances for Serbia.