Chelsea star Nicolas Jackson scored what proved to be the winning goal against Real Betis in midweek, a performance perhaps indicative of his Stamford Bridge tenure – finding the net despite an otherwise frustrating display.
Indeed, the Senegalese forward displayed a poor touch when clean through on the Betis defence, a moment highlighting the limitations of a striker who finished the 2024/25 season with just 13 goals in all competitions – fewer than the often-criticised Christopher Nkunku (14).
Unsurprisingly, the club has started searching for a suitable replacement or competitor for the 23-year-old. The Blues are close to finalising a deal for Ipswich Town`s key player, Liam Delap, who scored 12 Premier League goals this season.
It remains to be seen if the 22-year-old Delap, scheduled for a medical on Monday, will be Enzo Maresca`s primary number nine next summer, particularly as attention is also being paid to Eintracht Frankfurt`s sensation, Hugo Ekitike.
Evidently, the £30m acquisition of the Englishman could signal the start of a busy summer in West London, with an even more significant signing already being planned.
Chelsea`s Ongoing Transfer Search Post-Delap
It was confirmed on Friday that Chelsea secured the former Manchester City player`s signature, notably beating rivals Manchester United in the chase.
Competition with the Red Devils might persist, if recent reports are accurate. Maresca and his team are reportedly now focusing on a long-term target of the Old Trafford club – Everton`s Jarrad Branthwaite.
As reported by the Daily Mail, the Blues are said to be considering an approach for the tall centre-back, although David Moyes` side appears reluctant to sell their prized asset.
Last summer, United offered £50m, but the Toffees were seeking closer to £70m at the time. It`s unclear if the price remains the same now.
The report suggests that even if Ruben Amorim`s side renews interest, the Blues might hold an advantage due to Branthwaite`s desire for Champions League football – a priority for him when considering an exit a year ago.
Branthwaite, a U21 England teammate of Delap, could represent an even greater talent than his compatriot…
Why Branthwaite Would Be a Bigger Signing Than Delap
Despite the excitement over winning the race for Delap, who was reportedly monitored by almost every Premier League club, it`s worth remembering this deal still carries risk.
Indeed, the sought-after forward is fresh off his first top-flight campaign, having previously scored only eight goals in the Championship for Hull City in 2023/24.
Whether the young player will continue to develop under Maresca, with whom he previously worked at the Etihad, remains to be seen, given the limited evidence of his performance in the Premier League.
| Delap vs Jackson – 24/25 PL stats | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stats (*per game) | Delap | Jackson |
| Games (starts) | 37 (32) | 30 (28) |
| Goals | 12 | 10 |
| Goal frequency | 218min | 224min |
| Shots* | 1.8 | 2.5 |
| Big chances missed | 10 | 19 |
| Assists | 2 | 5 |
| Big chances created | 3 | 6 |
| Key passes* | 0.6 | 0.9 |
| Total duels won* | 38% | 38% |
This is not the case for Branthwaite. The former Carlisle United player, who joined Everton for just £1m in January 2020, has shone over the last two seasons at Goodison Park, after previously impressing on loan at PSV Eindhoven during the 2022/23 season.
During his spell in the Netherlands, the 6 foot 5 inch giant was described as a `complete` defender by manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, while analyst Ben Mattinson also lauded him as a `two-footed ball-playing, physical beast,` highlighting his wide range of abilities.
Since then, the £70m rated player has enjoyed two standout seasons in England`s top flight, making 65 league appearances in that period, emerging as a crucial partner alongside James Tarkowski.
Described as a `monster` by pundit Ian Wright, Branthwaite notably finished the 2024/25 season having won 63% of his total duels, while averaging 2.1 tackles and interceptions per game, alongside making 6.3 clearances, according to Sofascore.
In comparison, fellow left-footer Levi Colwill, who he could potentially replace or rival at Stamford Bridge, won just 57% of his total duels, while averaging 2.2 tackles and interceptions, and making 3.3 clearances per outing.
