Liam Rosenior Urges Chelsea Not to Sell Liam Delap as Bournemouth and Everton Circle

Liam Rosenior, the new Chelsea head coach, will plead with his employers not to sell Liam Delap this summer, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal. 

Less than 12 months after arriving at Stamford Bridge from Ipswich Town, Delap’s future in west London is already shrouded in doubt amid reports he could be culled as part of yet another squad makeover orchestrated by the Premier League club’s owners.

But Rosenior remains convinced that Delap possesses both the talent and the desire to become one of England’s finest centre-forwards and, a number of sources told SportsBoom last night, has relayed that opinion to BlueCo.

After reporting record-breaking losses, Chelsea are under pressure to cash-in on some of their developing talent in order to comply with both domestic and European financial regulations. 

And if they decide Delap is surplus to requirements, he could prove to be the first source of tension between Rosenior and a hierarchy which retains a notoriously high level of control over recruitment policy.

As reported by SportsBoom last month, Bournemouth are monitoring the player's situation at Stamford Bridge. 

More Than Just Goals

Aged 23, Delap entered the latest round of top-flight fixtures having netted only twice in 25 outings since heading to the capital. 

Although those numbers are unimpressive in themselves, the youngster’s link-up play and robust approach have impressed Rosenior and members of his coaching staff, telling them he will begin to show his true potential once he fully adjusts to life at one of the country’s biggest names.

Delap enjoys a close professional relationship with Rosenior, having worked with him during a successful spell on loan at Hull City earlier in his career. 

The striker, contracted to Manchester City at the time, then joined Town, scoring 12 times in only 32 league starts following their promotion from the Championship. A year later, he was snapped-up for £30m by The Blues.

Delap has also represented Preston North End and Stoke City since graduating from the Etihad’s youth academy, and has been capped 12 times by England at under-21 level.