The pundits have been having their say over whether striker Liam Delap should have chosen Everton and not Chelsea in the summer transfer window
10:25, 13 Feb 2026Updated 11:18, 13 Feb 2026
Jamie Carragher believes Liam Delap should have signed for Everton and not Chelsea(Image: Stick to Football)
It’s set to be another big summer transfer window for Everton. While the business needed to be done by David Moyes and the club’s recruitment team will not be as exhaustive as it was 12 months before, there are positions that need strengthening.
Right-back is the blindingly obvious one, as it has been for some time, while a new left-back may also be required, especially if Adam Aznou is deemed still not ready for the rigours of the Premier League. A decision will also have to be taken over whether to make a permanent move for on-loan Manchester City midfielder Jack Grealish, whose impressive season has been ended by serious injury.
And then there’s the centre-forward position. Thierno Barry has shown flashes of the potential that convinced the Blues to pay Villarreal £27m for his services, although after a fine run of four goals in five Premier League matches, he has been unable to find the net in the last three and in Tuesday’s 2-1 home loss to Bournemouth was guilty of missing a gilt-edged chance.
OPINION
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But while Barry’s future is at Hill Dickinson Stadium, you cannot say that with the same certainty over Beto, who was linked with moves away from the club during the transfer window just closed.
So a new striker may well be required come the end of the campaign and it will be interesting to see if Everton make a new play for Liam Delap.
Delap spoke with Moyes at the end of last season. The relegation release clause of £30m that was triggered by Ipswich Town’s return to the Championship provided the Blues with the opportunity to battle for his signature.
The England Under-21 international was said to have been impressed by the Everton manager’s sales pitch. However, he chose to join Chelsea, where he has scored just twice in 23 appearances amid a tough battle for a starting spot with leading marksman Joao Pedro.
And this week Jamie Carragher stated he believes Delap chose the wrong option.
The former Liverpool defender, speaking on Stick to Football, said: “It was a bad move. I just think young players when they’re on a journey getting better, this idea…the jump from Ipswich to Chelsea is too big. You need something in the middle.
“Playing centre-forward for Everton every game and knowing even if you have a few bad games or you’re injured, you’ll play again.
“He’s never sure if he’s going to play (at Chelsea). Even if he starts, he’s going to come off. Sometimes the jump is too big and you need that bit in the middle.”
Ex-Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor agrees with Carragher. Speaking on talkSPORT recently, he said: “I said when he joined Chelsea that I thought he should have gone to a team like Everton.
“Develop there for a couple of years and then make the big move to a top-six side. I think the jump from Ipswich to Chelsea was too much.”
However, another old Premier League goal-getter has backed Delap’s decision. Former Liverpool forward Emile Heskey said: “Liam Delap needs to concentrate on improving his hold-up play. It’s such an important asset because it affects how your team=mates play with you.
“They want a striker who they can be confident in firing the ball into, knowing it will stick. I think Delap needs to focus on that and spend more time on it.
“It is difficult, though, because a lot of the time people only care about goals and assists, but I still believe overall play is very important for him.
“Despite this, I think he was right to move to Chelsea in the summer. He believes he’s good enough to play for a top club, so he was right to take the opportunity.”
Delap and Chelsea visit Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first time next month (Saturday, March 21).
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