Chelsea keen on Premier League striker

Chelsea continue their Europa Conference League campaign with a trip to Germany to face Heidenheim on Thursday. 

The Blues have so far won all three of their group phase matches, most recently beating Armenian side Noah 8-0 at Stamford Bridge.

Enzo Maresca’s side therefore sit top of the table and are on course to qualify automatically for the knockout stages of the competition, and the Italian will undoubtedly be expecting his side to reach the latter stages at a minimum.

Thursday’s opponents Heidenheim currently sit sixth in the Conference League table, but they are 15th in the Bundesliga and have picked up just four points from their last nine matches in the competition.

Chelsea, meanwhile, occupy third place in the Premier League title and are on course to at least challenge for a top four spot.

Off the pitch, though, it has emerged that the Blues are chasing a Premier League striker.

As per Football Insider, the West London outfit are showing interest in Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap.

The England Under-21 international has made a strong start to life at Portman Road, having joined the Tractor Boys from Manchester City over the summer.

He has scored six goals in 12 Premier League matches so far, and the report claims that his form has attracted interest from both the Blues and former employer Man City.

It is claimed that a buy-back clause was included in the deal that took the 21-year-old to East Anglia, meaning City may be better placed than Chelsea in the race to sign Delap.

The report also suggests that City will ‘seriously consider’ re-signing the Englishman if his fine form continues in the coming months.

Delap’s contract with Town is set to run until 2029, but the newly-promoted side may not be able to prevent City re-signing the player if they choose to do so.