‘I wanted to win trophies’ - Chelsea’s £30m signing reveals why he snubbed Newcastle United
Chelsea signed Liam Delap from Ipswich Town following their Premier League relegation.
Liam Delap has insisted silverware is why he joined Chelsea over rival Premier League suitors.
Newcastle United held interest in the former Ipswich City striker following the club’s top-flight relegation. Ironically, it was the Magpies who put Delap in the shop window as a 3-0 win over the Tractor Boys confirmed their relegation - activating a £30million release clause.
Delap only joined Ipswich from Manchester City last summer in a bid to secure first-team football. A respectable 12 goals in his breakout Premier League season - for a dire Ipswich outfit - alerted the big boys.
Newcastle United still in the striker market?
Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle were the clubs reportedly vying for his signature. While Delap picked Chelsea, the Magpies could still find themselves in the market for a striker this summer.
Callum Wilson’s possible exit when his contract expires this month would leave Alexander Isak and young Will Osula as the only first-team options up front. The 33-year-old is understood to be considering an incentivised deal amid interest from Leeds United and Wrexham.
Liam Delap wants Chelsea silverware
As for Delap, it had been reported that game time was the reason behind snubbing Newcastle given Isak’s status as undisputed first-choice. But in his first interview as a Chelsea player, the 22-year-old set out a personal mission to win trophies.
"I understand the stature of this club and can see the trajectory it is on with these players and the head coach,” Delap told the club website. “It’s going to be an incredible place for me to develop, and I hope to achieve amazing things here and help the club win more trophies."
"I wanted to come here to win trophies. When I spoke to the club, everyone wanted to get back to the very top, and they have the quality and the players to do that. The hunger and desire to keep adding trophies, to take the club back to where it belongs, that is the main objective."
‘Speed is key’ - Eddie Howe
Eddie Howe sent a bullish messenger to the St James’ Park hierarchy that he wants players signed early to give them a headstart in pre-season. He said after the final-day defeat to Everton: "Speed is key because we have to be dynamic, we have to be ready to conclude things very quickly because good players don’t hang around for long.
“That’s always been my thought and my message on recruitment. You can have a period when you think you have time but then you look around quickly and you see that time has elapsed and you missed opportunities you won’t get again."