- Sky Sports News reports Everton have now explored a loan move for Delap
- Chelsea striker has managed just one Premier League goal in 24 appearances
- Loan route marks fresh momentum in Everton’s long-running search for a number 9
Everton have explored a loan move for Chelsea striker Liam Delap, according to Sky Sports News, giving fresh momentum to David Moyes’ search for a new number nine this summer.
The report adds a credible source to a saga that has rumbled on for months. Everton’s interest in Delap was first flagged months ago, and the Pat Nevin angle on a potential Delap switch suggested Finch Farm insiders have long seen him as a fit.
What’s new is the loan route, which moves the story on from the permanent-deal speculation that has dominated the Delap coverage to date.
Why Delap’s Chelsea spell hasn’t worked out
Delap arrived at Stamford Bridge last summer in a deal worth around £30m, joining from a relegated Ipswich Town side.
The move has not gone to plan. Injuries and inconsistent opportunities under Enzo Maresca restricted him to just a single Premier League goal in 24 appearances, with Joao Pedro now established as Chelsea’s first-choice striker.
That drop in game time is understood to be a key factor behind Chelsea’s willingness to consider a temporary exit, and Everton’s perceived advantage is the promise of regular football – something a top-six rival could not afford a player still,m in theory, rebuilding his confidence.
Why a loan makes sense for Everton
For David Moyes, the move makes sense. Everton’s striker department has been a long-running concern, with Beto and Thierno Barry yet to fully convince as long-term solutions up front.
A loan for Delap would allow Everton to test whether he can rediscover his Ipswich form without committing significant transfer funds, while leaving the door open to a permanent deal further down the line if it works.
Whether Chelsea ultimately sanction the move remains to be seen, and competition from elsewhere in the Premier League hasn’t gone away. But this report marks the clearest indication yet that a loan, rather than a permanent switch, is the most realistic pathway for Delap to leave Stamford Bridge this summer – and for Everton to finally get their man.
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