Nottingham Forest Pursues Liam Delap as Chelsea Open to Offers

Nottingham Forest have opened talks with Chelsea over a move for Liam Delap as Oliver Glasner pushes hard for a new striker before the window shuts.

Forest’s proposal on the table is a loan with an option to buy next summer, a structure that would limit their risk but give them first refusal if Delap finally explodes in the Premier League. Glasner’s urgency is understandable. His side’s 1-0 defeat to Leeds United at the weekend underlined a familiar problem: plenty of effort, not enough ruthlessness in front of goal.

Delap stuck in reverse at Chelsea

For Delap, this interest arrives at a crossroads in his Chelsea career. He joined from Ipswich Town with momentum and a growing reputation after an impressive spell at Portman Road, but the step up to Stamford Bridge has been unforgiving.

Expectations were heavy. The output was light. Just one league goal in his debut season, and not nearly enough influence to convince the hierarchy he should be central to the club’s plans.

The clearest sign came in Chelsea’s recent Premier League win over Fulham. Delap never left the bench. On a day when others enhanced their standing, he was left watching, his omission underlining how far he has slipped in the pecking order and how open Chelsea now are to offers.

That slide was symbolised even more starkly by the No.9 shirt. Joao Pedro took it ahead of the new campaign, a reward for a standout first season and a statement of trust from manager Alonso. Delap, once the great hope, was bumped to No.12. Numbers don’t score goals, but in a modern dressing room they tell you plenty about status.

With Nicolas Jackson and summer signing Marc Guiu both ahead of him, Delap’s route to regular minutes under Alonso looks almost completely blocked. For a former Manchester City academy forward trying to turn promise into production, the bench is no place to linger.

Forest lead the chase – but not alone

Forest, though, are not bidding in isolation. Interest in Delap has been bubbling all summer across the Premier League.

Ipswich Town, where he previously shone, have explored the idea of bringing him back. Everton are also hovering, ready to move for a loan if a permanent bid from elsewhere fails to materialise. The Toffees’ presence keeps the pressure on Forest to move decisively if they truly see Delap as a key piece of their rebuild.

At the City Ground, his pursuit fits a clear pattern. Glasner is reshaping his squad with a mix of heavy investment and opportunistic deals. Forest have already landed Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP for £36m, a statement signing at the back. They have also dipped into the free agent market, adding midfielder Xaver Schlager and goalkeeper Steve Benda to deepen the squad.

Those moves have been made possible by one giant outgoing: Elliot Anderson’s £116m transfer to Manchester City. That fee has given Forest room to manoeuvre, and Delap sits firmly within that strategy – a relatively young forward with upside who could grow with the team if the deal clicks.

Wider rebuild and another Premier League target

Forest’s recruitment drive does not stop with Delap. They are also tracking Newcastle United winger Jacob Murphy, another player with solid Premier League experience and the energy to fit into Glasner’s high-intensity approach.

Again, Everton lurk as competition. Both clubs are targeting players who can slot straight into the league’s tempo, or youngsters with the potential to do so quickly. Forest, still fine-tuning under Glasner, want players who don’t need months of adaptation before they deliver.

Chelsea ready to trim, Delap wants to stay in England

From Chelsea’s side, Delap is one of several forwards they are ready to move on despite the fact he still has five years left on his contract. Alonso’s arrival has triggered a sweeping overhaul: squad numbers shuffled, senior players nudged towards the exit, and a clear attempt to slim down what has been a bloated, unwieldy group.

Delap has become collateral in that reset. The club will listen to offers. The player, for his part, is not rushing into anything just to escape. He wants the right move, and crucially, he wants it to be in the Premier League.

Italian side Como, guided by Cesc Fabregas, had shown interest in taking him to Serie A. On paper, it could have been a fresh start in a slower, more tactical league. Delap, though, remains intent on proving himself in England.

So the stage is set. Forest are in talks, Everton and others are watching, and Chelsea are ready to deal. For a striker whose career has stalled in west London, the next decision could define whether he becomes another nearly man – or finally finds the platform to match the promise that once turned heads at Portman Road.