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New Chelsea forward Liam Delap is relishing the pressure of wearing the number nine shirt at Stamford Bridge. The 22-year-old joined from Ipswich for £30m, with the Blues fighting off competition from Manchester United, Newcastle and Everton to secure his signature. Delap has never worn number nine at senior level, but did don the number under Enzo Maresca with Manchester City’s Under-23s in the 2020/21 season, scoring 24 goals in just 20 appearances en route to the Premier League 2 title. Fernando Torres, Radamel Falcao, Álvaro Morata, Gonzalo Higuaín and Romelu Lukaku all failed to live up to expectations wearing number nine at Chelsea, while former Blues manager and now England boss Thomas Tuchel revealed 'nobody wants to touch the number nine' back in August 2022. However, level-headed Delap is not superstitious or worried he’s made a bad shirt selection. “No, I’m not that type of person, ” said Delap, speaking to talk SPORT from Philadelphia ahead of Chelsea’s final group-stage game against ES Tunis. “It’s something people speculate about but it doesn’t mean anything to me. “I chose it. At the end of the day, it’s just a number on the back of your shirt. The number nine has always been related to strikers, so it’s something I like, but there is no pressure [wearing it]. ” Delap cites Wayne Rooney as his idol growing up – and he finished with one more Premier League goal (12) last campaign than the Manchester United legend (11) did in his first season at Old Trafford, even though Ipswich got relegated. Delap is now hoping to surpass that tally next season, and can open his Chelsea account before then at the Club World Cup. With Nicolas Jackson suspended following a red card against Flamengo, and also banned from the opening Premier League game against Crystal Palace on August 17, Delap is guaranteed plenty of minutes. “I am just here to play football, ” said Delap. “Everyone sets targets, and of course I want to better the [12 league] goals I scored last season. “With the size of the club, there is always going to be competition and I think players thrive off IT. It is Chelsea, so it’s going to be tough and competitive and that’s what you relish. “I love the battles. I always have since I was a kid. I really love the aggressive side of [the game] and the competitive nature of the squad. It’s got to be controlled at times, but it’s my game ultimately and I enjoy it. “I think everyone playing football plays close to the edge a little bit. You have to be aggressive and on the front foot all the time. "I’ve always had that same edge since I was a kid and I’m not going to change the way my mindset is. You’ve just got to make sure you’re on the right side [of it]. “I was right in front of it when it happened [Jackson getting sent off against Flamengo]. It was so unlucky. He obviously didn’t mean to do it. These things happen in football, and I am sure he will get over it. ” It’s been a whirlwind and at times uncertain summer for Delap. He knew he was likely to leave by January, and that his £40m release clause would drop to £30m if Ipswich went down. 2022-23 - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - three goals in 21 appearances 2021-22 - Romelu Lukaku - 15 goals in 59 appearances 2019-21 - Tammy Abraham - 30 goals in 82 appearances 2018-19 - Gonzalo Higuain - five goals in 18 appearances 2017-18 - Alvaro Morata - 24 goals in 72 appearances 2015-16 - Radamel Falcao - one goal in 12 appearances 2011-15 - Fernando Torres - 45 goals in 172 appearances 2008-10 - Franco Di Santo - 0 goals in 16 appearances 2007-08 - Steve Sidwell - one goal in 25 appearances 2006-07 - Khalid Boulahrouz - 0 goals in 23 appearances He then met with all interested clubs once the Premier League season was over and told Chelsea he wanted to join shortly before the Europa Conference League Final. Whereas Ipswich in signing Delap from Manchester City in July 2024 hauled out minority owner and singer Ed Sheeran to add some star power to their pitch, Chelsea didn’t need any celebrities. They could instead offer Delap Champions League football, which crucially Manchester United couldn’t after losing the Europa League Final to Spurs. “I had a little Face Time with Ed, and it was nice to speak to him, but with this move, it was just Chelsea [on the calls]. And one of the reasons I came here and why I started playing football was to play in the Champions League. ” Yet the Blues’ participation in the Club World Cup also created a sudden change of plans. Chelsea preferred to keep Delap with them in America even though Lee Carsley was counting on him to lead the line for England at the Under-21 Euros in Slovakia. Delap is yet to win an England cap, but a year out from the 2026 World Cup he’s still very much in Tuchel’s thinking and has already trained with the senior squad. “Obviously, I had my sights set on the Euros all season and I was really looking forward to that, ” admitted Delap, who has earned 12 caps for England Under-21s, and won the Under-19 Euros in 2022. “But I signed here, and they wanted me [at the Club World Cup]. I want to be here as well. I need to get to know everyone. “It’s been a goal of mine since I was six or seven to play for my country and all I have to do is keep working hard and doing everything I can to try and get there. “I think obviously it’s going to help being at a club like this. If I’m playing well, then it gives me a good chance [of making the World Cup]. ” Delap will be looking to follow in the footsteps of both Levi Colwill and Cole Palmer, who are both now England regulars after becoming integral Chelsea players. Delap and Palmer were both at Manchester City’s Academy together where they worked under Maresca and forged a relationship with Joe Shields, who is now Chelsea’s Co-Director of Recruitment and Talent. Palmer even played a role in helping to secure Delap’s signature. “I’ve known Cole since I was 15, playing at Manchester City with him, ” said Delap. “I’ve got a good relationship with him, so it was nice to see a familiar face. “I spoke to him a little bit [before deciding to join Chelsea]. I asked him what I needed to ask. He told me what I needed to know. I don’t like too much information. Ultimately, it was my decision and I kind of just wanted my head to be clear. “It was a nice position to be in [having multiple clubs interested]. You never know if it is going to be the right decision, but you’ve just got to go with your gut and hopefully it works out… I took a few days to decide and speak to people then decide my future. “There are so many factors that went into it. I’ve got a good relationship with the manager. I know how he plays. I’ve played in this system before. I know a lot of the players here, and the project of the club and how they see the future, that’s what excites me. ” Chelsea view Delap as a perfect fit in Maresca’s system. He is both a modern number nine who is clinical, fast, dynamic and versatile. Yet, at the same time, there is a non-nonsense and brutish old-fashioned quality to his game. Delap is certainly robust, with only one knee injury during his loan at Hull City in 2023/24 keeping him out for any significant period. He even played through a nasty rib injury sustained against Wolves in April. Some of Delap’s toughness was embedded in him as a child when he’d frequently wrestle his dad – the former Derby, Southampton and Stoke City midfielder Liam Delap – in the garden, and he also played rugby at school. Delap featured in 37 matches for Ipswich in the Premier last season, scoring 12 goals and providing 2 assists. His 47 percent shooting-accuracy ranked 10th among forwards with over 900 minutes. He also won more duels (413) than any other centre forward. Chelsea will rely on Delap to get his goals tally into double figures again, and will hope he can build on his two assists in 2023/24. He already has one from his debut against Los Angeles FC in Chelsea’s 2-0 win in Atlanta. “I am maybe a little bit old school but it is the way I play and I don’t want to change it, ” said Delap. "But I still think there are a lot of other strikers like me. It’s been hard for many to take over Kane, and you’ve got [Ollie] Watkins, [Domic Solanke] Solanke and [Ivan] Toney. ” Delap views Kane as one of the most complete strikers in modern football. He got to see the Bayern striker up close when invited to train with England’s senior squad in March and the 31-year-old made a lasting impression. “I think he’s incredible and someone I’ve looked up to a lot in the last few years, ” said Delap. “His finishing ability is ridiculous and as a young player looking up to him he does so much you can take from his game. “He’s just got everything, " Delap added back in March. “I had a little chat with him, he's a really nice guy. "I watched him enough in the shooting drill to take so much from him and he's just incredible. Just everything goes in! 'His all-round game is incredible and he's played at the top level for so long now. As a striker, it's something I really enjoy doing, to watch the best practice and it's the best I've seen. ” Maresca has boldly predicted Delap will become Kane’s heir and “England’s future number nine”. And he could even get a chance to eclipse Kane in less than a week’s time since if Chelsea progress from the Club World Cup group stage they are on course to meet Bayern in Charlotte in the round of sixteen. *If you click on a link in this Box Out we will earn affiliate revenue This year's FIFA Club World Cup will see the top teams from around the world competing to be crowned champions. Here's how to watch every game for free on DAZN: From Harry Kane to Erling Haaland, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup promises to be packed with the most exciting football from the world's top talent. Sign up to DAZN now and watch all of the FIFA Club World Cup for free © 2025 talk SPORT Limited

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