Enzo Maresca expressed his confidence in Liam Delap’s potential to emerge as England’s primary striker, but he emphasized that the 22-year-old must first secure his place in Chelsea’s starting lineup. Following his recent £30 million transfer from Ipswich Town, Delap may debut for the Blues against LAFC in Atlanta during the FIFA Club World Cup opener on Monday.
Chelsea successfully outmaneuvered several rival clubs, including Manchester United, to secure Delap’s services. There are expectations that the former Manchester City academy player could one day compete with Harry Kane for the national team’s striker role.
Kane, who serves as England’s captain and holds the record for most goals with 73 in 107 matches, has been a standard in front of goal. Maresca, reflecting on a previous encounter against Ipswich, remarked, “Before Liam even joined us, I noted his potential to be England’s number nine. Now that he is with Chelsea, I have no doubt he can achieve that in the future.” He added, however, that hard work is essential, stating, “The message remains clear: arrive, train hard, and outwork the other number nines to earn that starting spot.” Dialogue with Delap has been straightforward, according to Maresca.
Delap, who was eager to join Chelsea, understands the team’s playing style, having previously won an under-23 competition with Maresca at Manchester City where he netted 24 to 25 goals. Maresca described their mutual understanding as a “win-win,” making for an effortless negotiation process.
At Chelsea, Delap has received the esteemed No. 9 shirt—a number that has historically brought pressure, as many high-profile forwards, like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Romelu Lukaku, have struggled under it. Maresca noted, “Liam is aware of the significance of the No. 9 for this club. From what I see, he appears calm and is training well. Our history together means he knows exactly what he can offer, and I know what we can do for his development.”
Moisés Caicedo, a midfielder, is optimistic about Delap’s immediate contributions during the tournament in the United States. He praised Delap’s training performances, stating, “We are thrilled to have him onboard. His quality is evident from last season, and with him in the squad, we are confident of scoring a lot of goals.”