Liam Delap is set to join Chelsea after the club activated his £30 million release clause, informing other interested teams that he will not be signing with them.

Currently, Chelsea is moving forward with the acquisition of the 22-year-old striker from Ipswich Town, and optimism is growing that the transfer will be finalized soon. At the same time, Ipswich is reportedly interested in bringing Chelsea’s 19-year-old striker, Marc Guiu, on loan for next season. The £30 million fee for Delap is seen by Chelsea as a great deal, considering it stems from a relegation release clause in his contract, following Ipswich’s disappointing finish at the bottom of the Premier League.

Delap garnered interest from Manchester United as well as Chelsea, both of which were frontrunners for his signature. However, Manchester United’s inability to secure a Champions League spot after losing in the Europa League final has diminished their appeal, leading to the understanding that he will not be joining them, along with other clubs that expressed interest. Newcastle United had also shown interest in the former Manchester City academy player, while Everton has been in discussions with him.

At 22, Delap is eager to compete in Europe and seeks a club that will offer him ample playing time. Chelsea, looking to enhance the competition for striker Nicolas Jackson, faced challenges with a lack of a recognized No. 9 during the latter part of the season due to injuries, and are now focused on finalizing personal terms with Delap.

In addition to Delap, Chelsea has expressed interest in Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, though his high valuation of around €100 million (approximately £84 million) is viewed as excessive. RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is also on Chelsea’s radar, with the striker having netted 21 goals in 45 matches this season and reportedly possessing a £62 million release clause.

Delap, who scored 12 goals in the Premier League this season along with two assists, hopes to have his future resolved ahead of the England Under-21 European Championships commencing on June 11.