Former Premier League striker Alan Shearer has hailed Chelsea signing Liam Delap as “confident” after his first goal for the Blues.
Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for a fee of £30m, which was the release clause in his contract after the Tractor Boys were relegated to the Championship after a valiant effort in the Premier League.
The Blues have added the 22-year-old in the hope that he will compete with Nicolas Jackson for the starting striker spot at Stamford Bridge.
Last year, he scored 13 goals and provided three assists for Ipswich, and Chelsea were able to fend off interest from Man United and Newcastle to ensure they signed the 22-year-old.
Delap scored his first goal for the Blues this week, as he netted their second goal during a 3-0 win against ES Tunis in the Club World Cup.
Shearer has “high hopes” for Delap at Chelsea
Following his first goal for the club, Delap will now hope to kick on and become a regular and reliable goalscorer for the Blues, despite the ‘curse’ of the number nine shirt at Stamford Bridge. Speaking on the Rest is Football Podcast, Alan Shearer praised Delap’s ability, and said that he expects good things from him under Enzo Maresca.
Shearer said: “Once you go to a new club, the sooner you can get a goal, the better. Not that he has shown any nerves because I think he can be really pleased with the way he’s started his Chelsea career.
“He’s looked confident and the goal he took was very, very well taken, full of belief. There were no nerves whatsoever so that should do him the world of good going forward.”
Shearer however doesn’t believe that he is anywhere near his peak yet, and believes that he still needs more development. “I haven’t changed my mind on him.” He said, “I like him, I still think he’s rough around the edges a little bit, but he’s only going to get better. Playing at that club and the chances he should get, I have high hopes for him going forward.”
