Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has warned that Liam Delap is not guaranteed of a starting shirt in the team, Afrosport reports.
The 22-year-old joined the Blues from Ipswich Town in a £30 million move and is expected to lead the attack for the London club.
Delap will have his first taste of competitive action at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, with Chelsea taking on Los Angeles FC in Atlanta on Monday.
Maresca, speaking ahead of the match said the Manchester City academy graduate will have to work hard to earn his place in the team.
“I never say to a player you (will) be a first choice, the message is always the same, you arrive, you work hard, you work more than the other number nine (and you can be),” the Italian stated.
Maresca worked with Delap while he was youth coach at Man City which he says made the transfer from Ipswich easy.
“Liam knows quite well how important is the number nine for this club… I see him quite relaxed, easy, he’s doing well, since he arrived he’s working well,” the former Leicester City boss added.
“We know each other already from years ago, so I know what Liam can give us, he knows what we can give to him to improve and to become a better player.
“He was keen to join us because he knows the way we play, the season that we were together…he scored 24 goals.
“We like Liam, Liam likes us, so it was an easy conversation.”
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) June 15, 2025
Chelsea have also boosted their squad with the signing of Dario Essugo, Mamadou Sarr and Kendry Paez from Sporting Lisbon, Strasbourg and Independiente del Valle respectively.
