Liam Delap arrived at Chelsea last summer as one of England’s most exciting young forwards. A year later, he’s fighting to save his career and Nottingham Forest think they can be the club to revive it.
From Prized Signing to Surplus to Requirements
Delap’s move to Stamford Bridge for around £30M turned heads after he’d scored 12 Premier League goals in a single season at Ipswich Town. But his first year in west London has been rough he managed only a couple of goals and a handful of assists across roughly 40-plus appearances , a return that’s left him fighting for a place in Xabi Alonso’s plans.
Now, with Chelsea reportedly ready to let him go, the striker has been made available for transfer at a valuation of around £40M despite costing far less just twelve months ago.
Forest Circle Back for a Familiar Target
This isn’t a new interest. Delap actually turned down offers from Manchester United, Newcastle, Everton and Forest themselves back in 2025 , choosing Chelsea largely for the promise of Champions League football. That promise didn’t pay off the way anyone expected.
Forest are now re-entering the race as they search for a new striker before the transfer window shuts, and The Daily Telegraph reports the club is actively exploring a bid. They won’t be alone in the chase — Leeds United and Everton have also been credited with interest in the 23-year-old.
Why Forest Makes Sense
New Forest boss Oliver Glasner is rebuilding his attack with real financial backing. The club has already brought in Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande in a £34.1M deal and signed Austria midfielder Xaver Schlager on a free transfer, with a move for Feyenoord full-back Givairo Read also reportedly close. A new frontman fits the pattern especially with Arnaud Kalimuendo tipped to leave the City Ground.
The pitch to Delap is simple: regular football. Under Glasner, he’d get a real chance to start every week and rebuild his confidence , something that’s been hard to come by behind Chelsea’s crowded forward line.
Not Everyone’s Convinced
The move isn’t without skeptics. A number of Forest supporters have pushed back on the idea of signing him , pointing to his difficult debut season as reason for doubt. Whether Forest can turn a faltering Chelsea striker into a rejuvenated City Ground hero remains to be seen — but with the transfer window ticking down, a decision is coming fast.
Bottom line: A once-hyped striker, a fresh start on offer, and a Forest side spending big to compete. If the deal happens, it could be one of the most fascinating reclamation projects of the summer window.
