Chelsea signed Liam Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m last summer to replace the underperforming Nicholas Jackson, but the Englishman has failed to live up to expectations.
His latest performance in Chelsea’s 5-2 loss to PSG perfectly summed up his disappointing experience with the west London side so far.
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Delap was played by a surprisingly tame Joao Pedro, whose only two notable actions were teasing a shot from a good position and having it flagged for offside.
Delap’s struggles in Chelsea shirt
The decision to sign Delap as a replacement for Jackson raised eyebrows. He is not a significant improvement compared to his Senegalese counterpart.
However, Delap has shown promise and allayed any concerns during his early performances at the FIFA Club World Cup.
He scored on his debut against LAFC in the Club World Cup and scored in his third match against Tunisia in the group stages to help Chelsea win.
His movement and ability to shoot from tight angles impressed fans.
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Unfortunately, Delap suffered a serious hamstring injury against Fulham in August, which ruled him out for two months.
He returned and soon after suffered a shoulder injury that sidelined him for more than a month. He couldn’t move on from that point on.
Joao Pedro’s form leaves Delap unavailable
Another reason Delap has struggled for game time this season is the stellar performance of hitman Joao Pedro.
Like Delap, he also joined Chelsea this summer, but the Brazilian has adapted to a forward role and become a starter, scoring 18 goals and nine assists in 40 games.
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Delap is a battering ram, while Pedro is a technical assassin with superb technique, great touch and superb finishing ability.
The variety of his goals is also noteworthy – left foot, right foot, header, chip shot, tap-in – a lot.
Pedro performed impeccably under Liam Rosenior, meaning Delap had to settle for a second-string role. A lack of playing time and rhythm hasn’t helped Delap find his groove.
Delap is now at a crossroads. He could stay and try to take Pedro’s starting job next season while competing with new signing Emmanuel Emerga, or head elsewhere to find playing time.
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Why a loan to Strasbourg makes sense for Delap
Delap is one of several Chelsea players who could leave the club in the summer.
A move to Chelsea BlueCo’s sister club RC Strasbourg Alsace could provide Delap with an ideal reset. The new environment will do him a world of good.
Strasbourg are expected to lose their key player Emanuel Emegha to Chelsea this summer. His departure leaves a sizable void in the offense.
They need a counter-attacking striker to replace him, and Delap fits the bill perfectly.
The English striker was at his most dangerous when running into space during Ipswich’s breakthrough, using his pace and physicality to punish opposition counter-attacks.
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Strasburg’s direct, transition-focused approach will allow those strengths to continue to play out better than he currently does.
Just as importantly, the move will provide him with regular playing time that has been hard to find this season.
A year at the top of Ligue 1 will allow him to rebuild rhythm, confidence and sharpness without the relentless pressure that comes with playing for a club like Chelsea.
Strasbourg could also head to Europe next season, giving the former Manchester City academy star the platform to prove his mettle on the world stage.
For Chelsea, this arrangement is also beneficial.
At Strasbourg, the Blues can easily monitor Delap’s progress ahead of his return to Stamford Bridge, ideally as a more complete forward ready to compete at the highest level.