What Enzo Maresca said on personal phone call that persuaded Liam Delap to sign for Chelsea | OneFootball

The Daily Mail’s Chelsea Confidential is always a great read in terms of giving insight and depth on the big Blues stories of the week, and this time around there is only one name dominating the headlines: Liam Delap.

After a long battle to sign him – and a couple of weeks where it looked like Manchester United might have stolen a march on us, the striker is now set to join Chelsea after his £30m release clause was triggered. We had heard a deal might be announced today, but given the time that now feels unlikely.

Tomorrow it certainly could happen. But how did we end up landing such an in demand player?

Maresca lends personal touch get signing over the line

Enzo Maresca on the touchline. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

According to the Mail’s reporting, it was in part down to Enzo Maresca’s personal touch. The manager apparently was “pitching the [Chelsea] project to Delap personally last week.”

It goes further – “Delap was even told to envisage himself leading the line in Chelsea’s system while watching the Conference League final.

“One source said the 22 year old liked what he saw.”

Man City influence plays its part

There’s also speculation that the heavy Manchester City influence at Chelsea, from former coach Maresca to former players Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia, Tosin Adarabioyo and Jadon Sancho, played a part in Delap’s decision.

Whatever the reason, getting Delap for his incredibly cheap release clause is a real coup. We saw what he good do in a good debut season in the Premier League, even playing for a largely dreadful Ipswich team. Put him in a Chelsea team which proved good at creating chances for Nicolas Jackson, and there’s no telling what damage he might do.

£30m might end up looking like the bargain of the century.