Chelsea are looking to complete three signings before the FIFA Club World Cup gets underway midway through this month.
The Blues are closing in on the signing of Liam Delap from Ipswich Town. football.london understands the signing of the striker can be considered virtually a done deal. Chelsea paid the £30million release clause in his contract at Portman Road following the Tractor Boys’ relegation back down to the Championship.
Delap had offers from elsewhere, including from Manchester United, but he chose Chelsea instead because of Enzo Maresca’s playing style, the quality already in the squad and a genuine belief the Blues will be challenging for the top honours in the coming seasons. The 22-year-old completed his medical at Cobham over Sunday and Monday, and an announcement is understood to be imminent.
Chelsea are not done there, though, and have opened talks with Borussia Dortmund over the signing of winger Jamie Gittens. The English left winger moved from Manchester City’s academy to Dortmund in 2018 and has flourished for the Black and Yellow’s senior side since making his first team debut in 2022.
Still only 20-years-old, Chelsea view Gittens as the ideal left winger for their squad despite interest in Alejandro Garnacho and Nico Williams. Gittens is expected to cost north of £50m but is said to be keen on returning to England with hopes of securing a place in Thomas Tuchel’s 2026 World Cup squad.
Elsewhere, Chelsea are in talks with Jadon Sancho over making his stay in west London permanent. The Blues are expected to activate the £25million clause in the 25-year-old’s loan deal, with conversations over personal terms understood to be underway.
Sancho had an up and down season for Chelsea but ended it on a high, with the winger scoring the third goal in his side’s 4-1 Conference League final triumph over Real Betis last week.
The Blues are also in the market for a new central defender, football.london understands, though nothing seems advanced on that front at this point. Chelsea wanted to sign Dean Huijsen, but the Spain international decided to move to Real Madrid instead; however, there are alternatives on the club’s radar.
They include Tomas Araujo, Jarrad Branthwaite, Jorrel Hato, Murillo, Ousmane Diomande and Marc Guehi. While there is interest in all six of those centre-backs, talks are yet to begin with any over a move this summer. It is looking as if this will be an area addressed either during the Club World Cup, or when the competition concludes.
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