Chelsea have agreed personal terms with Ipswich striker Liam Delap as they close in on sealing a bargain £30million deal, according to reports.
As reported by Mail Sport, the Blues won the race to secure Delap’s signature and he is set to put pen to paper on a long-term contract after undergoing a medical.
Those checks are said to have been pencilled in on Monday, with the club moving quickly to officially wrap up the transfer ahead of the Club World Cup.
Delap, 22, picked Stamford Bridge as his next destination and snubbed big-name interest from the likes of Manchester United and Newcastle in the process.
After the frontman scored 12 Premier League goals in his 37 appearances for the relegated Tractor Boys, the Blues wasted no time in registering their interest. A deal was then struck that will see them activate his £30million release clause.
His cut-price valuation came into effect after Ipswich’s drop into the Championship.
Chelsea have reportedly agreed personal terms with Ipswich striker Liam Delap
Enzo Maresca is set to sign the £30m ace after fending off competition from the Blues’ rivals
Delap will shortly undergo his medical before penning a long-term contract at Stamford Bridge
Enzo Maresca is believed to have spoken to Delap as Chelsea pitched their project – with the ace having been given permission to speak to potential suitors.
The Athletic have reported that Delap has also now agreed his personal terms.
Ipswich paid £20m when they signed Delap from Manchester City last summer, and City will bank 30 per cent of the overall fee as per their sell-on clause.
Talks are ongoing over the possibility of Chelsea forward Marc Guiu, who has made 14 appearances for the Blues, moving to Portman Road on loan in a separate deal.
Chelsea will have to make a decision over whether Delap travels to the Club World Cup or competes with England at the Under-21 European Championship in Slovakia.
The club will have the final say once he signs.
Delap spent much of his youth career at Derby before joining City’s academy in 2019.
However, he made just six appearances for the Premier League heavyweights’ first-team and was sent out on loan to Stoke, Preston and Hull.
