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Chelsea are aware that Liam Delap will be available for £30million this summer should Ipswich be relegated from the Premier League.
Delap has continued to attract a growing list of admirers since his £20m move from Manchester City last summer, having scored 12 goals in 33 appearances for the club.
However, his impressive form appears unlikely to prevent Ipswich from returning to the Championship next season.
Ipswich are currently 12 points adrift of safety in the Premier League with seven games to go, and could see their expected relegation confirmed this month if results continue to not go their way.
Chelsea are interested in Delap, with manager Enzo Maresca having worked with the young striker while in charge of City's Under-21s, and the pair grew a bond.
Before Ipswich beat Chelsea in December, Maresca had touted the 21-year-old as a player with a big future. He went on to score and assist both goals in a 2-1 win and had added a further five league goals in 2025.
Manchester United have also been linked with Delap, and will be tempted by the relatively cheap price tag amid ongoing concerns over the form of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, who have scored three goals combined this calendar year.
United are also keen on Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres, who would likely cost at least twice Delap's fee and is considered among Arsenal's key striker targets this summer.
RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike and Napoli’s Victor Osimhen are also expected to be popular targets for top-flight clubs during the summer window, but Delap's proven Premier League pedigree will appeal.
Newcastle have also been linked with Delap as they look for a replacement for Callum Wilson and, potentially, Alexander Isak - who is considered Arsenal's dream signing.
City will pocket £6m from any sale triggered by the release clause due to the sell-on clause added in his sale. They also hold a buy-back clause but are not expected to activate it.
