Chelsea set £50m Liam Delap asking price amid Newcastle, Everton and Nottingham Forest interest

Chelsea have reportedly set an asking price of £50m for striker Liam Delap, with Newcastle United, Everton and Nottingham Forest all monitoring his situation before the summer transfer window closes.

Delap is understood to be open to a move to Newcastle United after receiving indications that he may not have a long-term future at Stamford Bridge. The 23-year-old endured a difficult first season in the capital and is now considering his options as he seeks to revive his career.

Chelsea’s position became clearer when head coach Xabi Alonso left Delap completely out of the squad for the club’s final pre-season friendly against Real Sociedad. The Blues won that match 3-1, but Delap was not involved.

According to Football Insider, Newcastle United retain a long-standing interest in signing the forward and are closely following the growing uncertainty around his position at Chelsea. However, they face competition from fellow Premier League clubs Everton and Nottingham Forest, who are also interested in securing his services.

The main obstacle for all three clubs is Chelsea’s valuation. Recent reports suggest the London club want £50m for Delap, a figure intended to prevent them receiving offers that fall significantly below their expectations.

Chelsea are keen to recover a substantial part of their previous investment in the player and improve their financial position, despite his disappointing numbers during his debut campaign. Delap scored just once in 28 Premier League appearances last season, while his form was also affected by a wider dip in performance and recurring fitness problems.

The striker joined Chelsea last summer but struggled to establish himself during his first year with the club. His limited goal return has contributed to doubts over whether he will remain part of Alonso’s plans for the long term.

A move to St James’ Park is believed to appeal to Delap, who remains determined to continue playing in the Premier League. The competition for attacking places in Newcastle United’s ambitious squad is not thought to have discouraged him, with the England forward keen to find an opportunity to restart his career.

Delap has already ruled out moving abroad after rejecting the possibility of joining Italian club Como on loan. His preference is to stay in England, making Newcastle United an attractive destination if the two clubs can agree on a fee.

Newcastle United will need to find a compromise with Chelsea over the financial terms before a deal can progress. Should they manage to bridge the gap between Chelsea’s £50m valuation and their own assessment of the player, a transfer to St James’ Park could offer Delap the chance to rebuild his career after a difficult year in London.

For now, Newcastle United, Everton and Nottingham Forest remain interested, while Chelsea’s substantial asking price is likely to shape the next stage of negotiations.