Enzo Maresca has said Chelsea transfer target Liam Delap is doing “fantastic” as the Blues prepare to host Ipswich.
After a 3-0 win against Legia Warsaw on Thursday night in the Conference League, the Blues welcome relegation threatened Ipswich to Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Chelsea are in desperate need of the three points in order to keep their hopes of Champions League qualification alive, whilst the Tractor Boys need the points if they are to stand any chance of beating the drop.
Maresca praises Delap
Chelsea lost the reverse fixture at Portman Road 2-0 in December and will be looking to put things right in the return fixture.
Maresca will come up against a player he knows very well in Delap, and the 22-year-old caused the Blues all sorts of issues at Portman Road.
Chelsea have been strongly linked with Delap and he’s said to have a release clause of around £30m if Ipswich get relegated.
Maresca praised Delap after the first meeting between the two sides and has once again praised the striker ahead of Sunday’s game.
“In terms of numbers, Liam is doing fantastic,” he said as cited on X.com.
“I think he’s scored 12 [Premier League] goals already. The way he plays and fights and is always ‘there’. But he’s an Ipswich player. He’s an enemy on Sunday.”
Delap joined Ipswich from Manchester City last summer in a deal worth £20m and has impressed in his debut campaign, whilst he’s said to be attracting interest from multiple clubs not just Chelsea.