Nottingham Forest in the race for Premier League attacker

Nottingham Forest enter Liam Delap transfer race as Chelsea weigh summer sale

Nottingham Forest have moved into the conversation for Liam Delap, with talkSPORT reporting that the Chelsea striker is now on the club’s radar during the closing stages of the transfer window. It is a developing market, and the key detail appears to be the player’s preference, because Delap is “keen to stay in the Premier League”.

That point matters. It narrows the field, shapes Chelsea’s options and gives clubs such as Forest a clearer opening if they decide to accelerate. Newcastle and Everton have both been associated with the 23-year-old, yet the report states that interest “hasn’t progressed into any concrete offers”. In a window where timing can be every bit as important as valuation, that leaves room for another side to position themselves.

Chelsea’s stance is also becoming clearer. After Delap’s “£30million arrival from Ipswich last summer”, his first year at Stamford Bridge proved difficult. He scored “just once in the Premier League and twice overall in an injury-hit campaign”, and the club have now “told he can leave Stamford Bridge this summer” as they seek to streamline an overcrowded squad. The figure being discussed is significant too, with Chelsea “demanding £40m for Delap”, a price that would secure a profit in quick time.

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Liam Delap market points towards Premier League move

There is overseas interest. Como, now managed by Cesc Fabregas, have emerged as a possible destination and can offer Champions League football. On paper, that should carry weight. In reality, the player’s desire to remain in England looks decisive. The report says Como “might struggle to strike up a deal for the Englishman, who wants to stay in the Premier League”. For Forest, that is one of the most encouraging aspects of this situation.

Delap’s profile still carries appeal despite a poor season at Chelsea. Clubs will remember the centre-forward who scored 12 goals in 2024/25 for Ipswich in their first campaign back in the top flight. They will also note his age, physical style and the sense that his value has not disappeared, even if his momentum stalled in west London. Chelsea’s wider attacking reshuffle, including the arrivals of Danny Welbeck and Emmanuel Emegha, plus uncertainty around Nicolas Jackson, only increases the likelihood that Delap departs.

Nottingham Forest striker search gains logic

Forest’s interest is easy to understand in the current context. With “Taiwo Awoniyi poised to join top-flight newcomers Coventry”, the need for another centre-forward could quickly move from optional to urgent. Delap would not be a risk-free addition at £40m, but the market rarely offers finished products at that age for less, especially those with Premier League experience already behind them.

There is also a football fit to consider. Forest under Oliver Glasner require intensity, running power and a striker capable of unsettling defenders directly. Delap has shown those traits before, and a fresh environment may be exactly what he needs. The report adds that he is looking for a move that will help him rediscover the level that persuaded Chelsea to sign him, and his longer-term ambitions are obvious. He has represented England through the youth age groups and will know that regular minutes are essential if senior international recognition is to become realistic.

Chelsea asking price leaves room for negotiation

The valuation is where this becomes interesting. Chelsea want £40m, but the absence of concrete offers from rival Premier League clubs may yet test that number. As deadline day approaches, selling clubs often talk from a position of strength until the market tells them otherwise. Forest may see that as an opportunity, particularly if they believe Delap’s preference gives them leverage against foreign competition.

For now, this feels like a situation worth watching closely. Delap’s future “lies away from Stamford Bridge”, the player wants to remain in the Premier League, and Forest have entered the race at a moment when the landscape is still fluid. In transfer terms, that is often when deals begin to move.

Our View

From a Nottingham Forest perspective, this is the sort of update that gets supporters excited. Delap may be coming off a bad season, but that can create the very opening ambitious clubs need. If Forest can offer him regular football, belief and a clear role, there is every chance they would be signing a striker with a point to prove and the tools to make a real impact.

The biggest attraction here is the upside. We are talking about a forward who has already shown he can score in the Premier League, who plays with aggression and who still has age on his side. At 23, there is room for growth, and a lot of fans would back the recruitment team to identify whether Chelsea’s environment simply was not the right one for him.

The £40m price is steep, of course, and Forest supporters would want the club to be smart. But if Awoniyi is heading out, replacing that presence up front becomes crucial. Delap feels like a player who could quickly connect with the City Ground crowd because of the way he plays, full of energy, edge and intent.

Most of all, this would signal ambition. Forest are not circling around a short-term patch-up option here. They are looking at a Premier League striker entering what should be key years of his career. If a deal can be structured well, plenty of fans would see this as a gamble worth taking.

Source: talkSPORT