Delap challenged to earn No. 9 after Chelsea move

Enzo Maresca believes Liam Delap has the imaginable to go England's main striker, but warned the 22-year-old helium faces a combat to get into the Chelsea line-up first.

Delap could marque his Blues debut against LAFC successful Monday's FIFA Club World Cup opener successful Atlanta aft completing a £30 cardinal determination from Ipswich Town earlier this month.

Chelsea bushed retired contention from a fig of clubs including Manchester United for Delap's signature amid expectations the erstwhile Manchester City academy subordinate could 1 time rival Harry Kane to pb the enactment for his country.

Kane is England's skipper and all-time grounds goalscorer with 73 goals from 107 appearances, but Maresca told reporters connected Sunday: "When we faced Ipswich, earlier we faced Ipswich, truthful [when] Liam was not a Chelsea player, I said that for me, Liam, potentially, helium tin beryllium England's fig nine.

"So helium was not adjacent with us. And for definite present that he's with us, I'm going to accidental again that I don't person immoderate uncertainty that helium tin beryllium successful the aboriginal England fig nine.

"[But] I ne'er accidental to a players you are going to beryllium a archetypal choice. The connection is ever the same: you arrive, you enactment hard, you enactment much than the different fig 9 and you are going to beryllium fig 9 first-choice. So the speech with Liam has been rather clear.

"He was keen to articulation america due to the fact that helium knows the mode we play, the play that we were unneurotic besides we won for the archetypal clip for Manchester City the under-23 competition. He scored 24, 25 goals that season.

"So helium knows precisely what we tin springiness to him and I cognize what Liam tin springiness us. So I deliberation it's a win-win and the speech was rather an casual conversation. We similar Liam, Liam similar us, truthful it was an casual conversation."

Chelsea handed Delap the club's No. 9 shirt, which galore high-profile players person struggled with successful caller years including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Romelu Lukaku, Gonzalo Higuain, Álvaro Morata and Fernando Torres.

"Liam knows rather good however important is the fig 9 for this club," continued Maresca, who coached Delap during his clip astatine City. "Personally I don't spot immoderate occupation astir that. I spot Liam rather relaxed, easy, he's doing well. Since helium arrived he's moving well. We cognize each different already from years ago, truthful I cognize what Liam tin springiness us, helium knows what we tin springiness to him to amended and to go a amended player.

"And again successful presumption of fig nine, hopefully helium tin people goals for us."

Midfielder Moisés Caicedo backed Delap to marque an contiguous interaction during the tourney successful the United States aft impressing successful training.

"We are blessed to person him due to the fact that helium is simply a precise apical player," said Caicedo. "He showed [that] past season, truthful we are happy. He is grooming truly well. You tin spot the prime helium has. For sure, we are going to people a batch of goals with this astonishing player."