Liam Delap is reportedly close to leaving Chelsea for Nottingham Forest after just one season at Stamford Bridge.
The England striker could join Forest in a deal worth around £40 million, potentially allowing Chelsea to recoup more than they paid for him last summer.
Delap moved to Chelsea from Ipswich for £30m after scoring 12 Premier League goals during Ipswich’s 2024-25 campaign. However, he struggled to reproduce that form in west London.
Forest turn to Delap for attacking boost
Forest have identified Delap as a solution to their early-season problems in front of goal after beginning their campaign with a 1-0 home defeat by Leeds.
Neither Igor Jesus nor Chris Wood could find the net in that game, increasing the pressure on the club to strengthen their attacking options.
The situation has become more pressing following Taiwo Awoniyi’s £9m transfer to newly promoted Coventry City.
New Forest manager Oliver Glasner is now keen to add another striker to his squad, with Delap emerging as the club’s preferred target.
The 23-year-old is understood to be capable of completing the move as early as this weekend.
Chelsea ready to move on from Delap
Delap’s proposed departure would bring an unexpectedly quick end to his Chelsea career after a disappointing first season.
The forward scored only once in the Premier League, with his sole goal coming in Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat by Fulham in January.
His struggles contributed to increased calls from supporters for Nicolas Jackson, who spent part of the campaign competing with Delap before leaving on loan for Bayern Munich.
Chelsea have since strengthened their options up front, signing Danny Welbeck while Emmanuel Emegha has also arrived from Strasbourg.
Jackson has returned to the squad but remains linked with a move away, with Aston Villa reportedly interested in the Senegal international.
