Chelsea striker Liam Delap is reportedly nearing an exit from the club, with Nottingham Forest among those monitoring his situation. Delap's presence in the starting lineup for Chelsea's 6-4 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers suggested no immediate transfer was planned, but his performance in the match has reportedly not solidified his position.
During the friendly, Delap was overshadowed by other Chelsea attackers, particularly Joao Pedro, who replaced him in the 66th minute. Pedro made an immediate impact, providing an assist for Jamie Gittens and scoring two goals himself. The Brazilian's performance led to him being labeled as "untouchable" by the club, with Chelsea indicating he is not for sale. In contrast, Delap, a £30 million signing from Ipswich last summer, was substituted after an hour, with the gap in performance between him and Pedro described as stark.
Young Talent Shines
The match also highlighted the potential of several young Chelsea players. Seventeen-year-olds Ryan Kavuma-McQueen and Dastan Satpayev combined for Chelsea's first goal, with Satpayev, a trialist from FC Kairat, scoring clinically. Reggie Walsh, also 17, impressed in an attacking midfield role, while 18-year-old Landon Emenalo featured at left-back. Sixteen-year-old Reggie Watson, son of former Wigan midfielder Ben, was noted for his physical presence and performance, remaining on the pitch after nine substitutions were made by manager Xabi Alonso at the hour mark.
Jamie Gittens, who had a season disrupted by injury, scored his third goal in as many pre-season friendlies, signaling a potential return to form. He has now scored in consecutive matches against Crawley, Bromley, and Western Sydney Wanderers under Alonso.
Defensive Concerns and Set-Piece Needs
Despite the offensive talent on display, Chelsea's defense showed vulnerability. The center-back pairing of Tosin Adarabioyo and Josh Acheampong struggled with possession under pressure from the high press of Western Sydney Wanderers. The Australian side, who finished last in the A-League, managed to score multiple goals, with Aydan Hammond notably outmaneuvering Acheampong for one of their strikes.
The club's need for a set-piece specialist was also evident, as Western Sydney Wanderers posed a threat from corners, scoring one goal from such a situation. Chelsea's potential recruitment of Austin MacPhee from Aston Villa to fill this role is seen as a priority.