Romano: Maresca “keeps mentioning” striker he called “very good” in transfer meetings | OneFootball

Fabrizio Romano was on a big transfer round-table last night, and as you’d expect, Chelsea were a hot topic.

The Blues’ need for a striker has been brought into sharper focus by the fact that Nicolas Jackson is injured right now, leaving poor Enzo Maresca without a recognised first team striker.

According to Romano, the coach has already picked out the man he wants however – and it’s a name he keeps bringing up in recruitment meetings with his bosses: Liam Delap.

“[Delap is] on the list, for sure. He’s a player they appreciate. They already made some contact in January to understand the financial package needed. For Ipswich, it was obviously impossible to accept any proposal in January,” Romano said on GiveMeSport’s Market Madness.

“He was untouchable, but in the summer, it will be different, so for sure he’s on the list for Chelsea. For sure he’s a player they appreciate, for sure he’s one of the names Enzo Maresca keeps mentioning in internal meetings they’re having because he obviously knows the player since they were together at Manchester City’s academy. So Delap is there.”

Maresca has already openly praised towering striker who looks ready to step up

Chelsea are favourites to sign Liam Delap. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

We can well believe that Maresca is bringing Delap’s name up in those meetings because we’ve already heard the Chelsea boss speak about the youngster following his starring role in Ipswich’s win over the Blues back in December.

“This is a very good striker — as I’ve said many times, England are quite lucky because they have very good players, very good strikers,” Maresca said.

“He is working hard off the ball, on the ball he understands the game and he can score goals. Because of his age, I think he can be an important player for England.”