Manchester United legend Roy Keane has criticized Chelsea striker Liam Delap, saying the England Under 21 (U-21) international lacks confidence and real quality in his first season at Stamford Bridge.
Delap joined Chelsea last summer for 30 million pounds from Ipswich Town after the Blues activated his relegation release clause. He had scored 12 goals in 37 Premier League appearances for Ipswich during the 2024 to 2025 season before the Suffolk club was relegated to the Championship.
When asked on the Stick to Football podcast whether Delap has been a hit or miss at Chelsea, Keane responded, “At the moment, he is obviously lacking confidence, and he lacks real quality. Being a handful up front is not enough. But he is only a young kid; you have to give him the benefit of the doubt. I am not writing him off, but he has been a miss so far for Chelsea.”
The 23 year old has scored just two goals in 23 appearances in all competitions this season, with one of those coming in the Premier League. Delap has had injury problems over the first half of the season, missing 10 games due to a hamstring injury and four due to a shoulder injury.
Gary Neville, also speaking on the podcast, added, “I think we all said at the start of the season that we weren’t sure how he would do at Chelsea. He’s got one goal in 17 league appearances, he was obviously injured for a period.”
Chelsea fought off interest from a number of Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, to sign Delap on a six year contract. However, his transition to a bigger club has proven difficult, with limited playing time and struggles to replicate the form that attracted Chelsea’s attention.
The striker has been further hampered by the impressive form of teammate Joao Pedro since manager Liam Rosenior arrived at Chelsea from French Ligue 1 side Strasbourg. The Brazilian forward has become undroppable under Rosenior, limiting opportunities for Delap.
Delap has started just three of Rosenior’s 10 games in charge, including one appearance as a winger in the Football League Cup (Carabao Cup) semifinal second leg against Arsenal, a tactical deployment that drew criticism from pundits.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher previously suggested that Delap made a mistake in joining Chelsea, arguing that a move to a club where he would receive more playing time would have been better for his development.
The pressure will be on Delap to produce over the second half of the season as Chelsea look to secure Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League qualification. The Blues are currently fifth in the Premier League table with 44 points from 26 games.
Competition for places will intensify next season with the arrival of Emmanuel Emegha from Strasbourg. The Dutch international has signed a seven year deal at Stamford Bridge and scored 14 goals in Ligue 1 last season under Rosenior.
Delap’s struggles contrast sharply with his successful spell at Ipswich, where he became a key player under manager Kieran McKenna. At Portman Road, Delap was given consistent starts and thrived as the focal point of the attack, developing a reputation as a strong, physical forward capable of holding up the ball and scoring goals.
The England U-21 international previously spent time on loan at Stoke City, Preston North End, and Hull City while developing his game away from parent club Manchester City, where he progressed through the youth academy.
Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos, who worked with Rosenior at Strasbourg last season, has praised the manager’s coaching abilities. “I talked to the guys because I knew him already after we worked together in Strasbourg. I think he is a top coach, a top person as well, and he asks us every single day to be constant in bringing intensity,” Santos told Chelsea’s official website.
Chelsea have steadily improved under Rosenior since his appointment last month. The draw against Leeds United on February 10 was the first time the Blues dropped points under the new manager.
Delap will hope to feature in Chelsea’s upcoming FA Cup fourth round fixture against Hull City on Thursday, February 13. A strong cup run could provide the platform he needs to rebuild confidence and force his way into regular Premier League contention.
