Liam Delap: The Next Diego Costa at Stamford Bridge?

Liam Delap, the 22-year-old English striker, is being hailed as a potential successor to Diego Costa at Chelsea. The Blues have invested £30m in Delap, taking advantage of Ipswich's relegation from the Premier League in the 2024-25 season. Despite Ipswich's downfall, Delap managed to impress with 12 top-flight goals in his debut Premier League season. As a result, Chelsea offered him the coveted No.9 shirt, indicating their faith in his potential. Delap's powerful style of play has drawn comparisons with Chelsea legend Diego Costa, and Tore Andre Flo believes that the young striker has the potential to live up to these expectations. While Flo acknowledged the challenge of moving from a relegated team to a top-tier club like Chelsea, he praised Delap's qualities such as speed, technique, power, and intelligent movement. Chelsea's decision to sign Delap could prove to be a masterstroke, as he offers a different type of play style compared to their other strikers, particularly Nicolas Jackson. Flo also highlighted the pressure that comes with being a main striker at a club like Chelsea, but expressed confidence in Delap's ability to handle it. Delap's Chelsea journey begins with the FIFA Club World Cup, and it will be interesting to see how he integrates into the team and takes on the challenges of the Champions League.