Everton have been backed to make a fresh transfer raid for Liam Delap this summer after missing out on the forward last year, with renewed talk centring on whether David Moyes will go back for a player he wanted in the first place. The 22-year-old chose Chelsea over Everton and Manchester United last summer, but his spell in London has not yet delivered the breakthrough many expected.
Delap has scored just twice in 38 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea, a return that has only sharpened the debate over his next move. Everton held talks with him last summer and Moyes was keen to bring him to Goodison Park after Ipswich Town were relegated, when Delap had a £30million release clause in his contract. That deal was close enough for Everton to believe another attempt is possible now.
The strongest public push has come from Pat Nevin, who said Everton would be the obvious place for Delap and insisted Chelsea is not the right fit for him. Nevin said, “I don’t see him going back to Ipswich,” and added: “Everton would be the obvious place. Absolutely nailed on.” He also said: “I’m not saying it’s a done deal, but I think Everton want him and I think it would be brilliant for everyone. And it's a safer bet for him.”
Nevin doubled down on that view, saying: “Delap is nailed on for Everton. There's technical reasons why.” He added: “Delap would be perfect. I don't know if they'll get him, but Chelsea's not the right place for him.” The comments reflect a growing sense that Delap needs a club where he can play every week, rather than wait for minutes to open up.
Andy Townsend made the same point earlier this month, saying Everton have room for another centre forward even with Thierno Barry and Beto in the squad. “With Thierno Barry and Beto at Everton, there's an opportunity for somebody if you want to go in there and grab a shirt,” Townsend said. “Those boys are no doubt giving it their very best, but you’d like to think that there’s an opportunity there for somebody if they can convince David Moyes that they can go in there and do it.”
Townsend described Delap as “a big, bustling, hard-running, aggressive centre forward” and argued that Chelsea can be a difficult place for a striker who is not starting regularly. “The problem is you go to a club like Chelsea and you’re not playing a lot of football if you’re not playing in the team,” he said. “I’m sure he’s very frustrated, but he’s got to get razor-sharp this summer and at the start of next season.”
The backdrop matters because Everton are still searching for reliable goals and Delap remains a player they know well from last summer’s talks. Chelsea gave him the bigger stage after Ipswich’s relegation, but the move has not worked out as planned. If Everton do return, they would be betting that a familiar pitch and a clearer route to minutes can succeed where Chelsea have not.
For Delap, the decision now looks as much about football as money or status. The next club has to offer him games, not just a badge, and Everton believe they can make that case again this summer.
