Sports
Chelsea earmark 23-year-old as a future player as scouts watch all of his games
Chelsea have identified an in-form striker as a potential future player for Enzo Maresca as club scouts watch all of his matches.
Chelsea given Liam Delap concern as Joao Pedro plan revealed
It hasn’t exactly been the best of starts to his west London career for summer signing Liam Delap, who has spent most of his debut campaign at Stamford Bridge on the treatment table.
Indeed, Delap’s highly anticipated Chelsea stint has descended into frustration, with the 22-year-old managing just six starts across all competitions.
Persistent fitness problems have prevented him from establishing any meaningful impact. Delap’s nightmare began in August when he sustained a hamstring injury that sidelined him for over two months, forcing him to miss ten matches during the crucial opening phase of the campaign.
After finally returning to fitness in November, the England youth international managed only his sixth Premier League start against Bournemouth before disaster struck again.
Landing awkwardly following an aerial duel with Marcos Senesi, Delap dislocated his shoulder and was forced off after just 32 minutes with his arm in a makeshift sling.
Big name player has privately said that he would join Chelsea in January
It could lead to a very popular transfer.
Reports have since claimed that the former Man City starlet faces up to a month out, with his return not anticipated until midway through January.
The forward’s only goal this season came as a substitute in Chelsea’s Champions League victory over Barcelona, with Maresca acknowledging that Delap has been “a little bit unlucky” but insisted the goals will eventually come once he can maintain fitness and rhythm.
However, according to journalist Simon Phillips, there are ‘internal concerns’ over his start to life at Chelsea, and the club’s desire to play Joao Pedro in an attacking midfield role means they’re considering another striker.
Emmanuel Emegha is due to arrive from Strasbourg next year, but the plan for him is currently unclear, and he could even head back out on loan.
Chelsea earmark Strasbourg striker Joaquín Panichelli as ‘future player’
Writing via his Substack, Phillips reports this morning that Chelsea have their eyes firmly on in-form striker Joaquín Panichelli as a ‘future player’ amid their worries about Delap.
Club scouts are said to be watching all of his games for Strasbourg too, and they’ll be mightily impressed by what they’ve seen from the Argentine.
Panichelli has already scored 10 goals in 21 outings across all competitions for Chelsea’s sister club so far, and their relationship with Strasbourg via BlueCo means this could be a pretty straightforward deal to do.
“Chelsea have been looking at new strikers, and one name we do have that the club are watching closely right now is Joaquín Panichelli, who of course is also at Strasbourg,” wrote Phillips.
“He’s been earmarked as another future Chelsea player and club scouts are watching all of his games right now.”
The 23-year-old has also seriously impressed Ligue 1 experts, with pundit Joachim Durand telling Transfermarkt that Panichelli is a ‘pure number nine’ with many desirable qualities.
“Paniquelli is a pure number nine,” added Durand.
“His main qualities are his finishing, positioning and heading ability. He is also very involved in defensive work, particularly pressing.”
Agents make ‘clear’ transfer demand as Chelsea forward pushes for January exit
His representatives have made one thing known.
