Just over a year after his big-money move to Stamford Bridge, Liam Delap’s Chelsea career could already be over — and Nottingham Forest are the club working behind the scenes to give him a way out.
From Chelsea Outcast to Forest Target
The numbers tell a brutal story. Chelsea have now made the 23-year-old available for £50m and he’s been training away from the first-team squad — about as clear a signal as football gets that a player’s time is up. Forest have moved quickly to explore a deal, and while it’s still unclear whether it will be a permanent transfer or a loan, the two clubs are said to enjoy a positive working relationship that could smooth things along.
How It All Went Wrong So Fast
Delap’s fall from favour has been startling in its speed. He didn’t even make the squad for Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Fulham, and to make matters worse, he lost the coveted number nine shirt to fellow forward Joao Pedro just last week.
It’s a far cry from the excitement that surrounded his £30m arrival from Ipswich Town barely a year ago. Injury trouble — a shoulder issue followed by a hamstring problem — derailed his debut season, leaving him with just a single Premier League goal to show for it.
Why Forest Make Sense
This wouldn’t be an isolated move — it’s part of a much bigger summer rebuild at the City Ground. Forest have already brought in defender Ousmane Diomande for £34m, plus free signings Xaver Schlager and Steve Benda, while banking a club-record £116m from selling Elliot Anderson to Manchester City and adding another £9m from Taiwo Awoniyi’s move to Coventry.
If Delap does arrive, he’d slot straight into the mix as fresh competition for Chris Wood and Igor Jesus up front — exactly the kind of firepower boost a club overhauling its squad would want.
The Clock Is Ticking
Time is not on anyone’s side here. Chelsea currently have a staggering 39 senior players on their books and are racing to offload a number of them — through sales or loans — before the transfer deadline on 1 September. That pressure could work in Forest’s favour if they’re willing to move fast.
What’s Next?
For Delap, this isn’t just about a change of shirt — it’s about reviving a career that stalled almost as soon as it began. For Forest, it’s another bold statement in a summer already packed with them. Whether this deal gets over the line in the days ahead could shape both clubs’ seasons in very different ways.
Stay tuned as Forest’s deadline-day business continues to develop.
