Английн залуу довтлогч ирэх долоо хоногт эмнэлгийн үзлэгт хамрагдаж, таван жилийн гэрээ байгуулах төлөвтэй байна.
Ноттингем Форест клуб Челсигийн 23 настай довтлогч Лиам Делапыг эгнээндээ нэгтгэхээр тохиролцоонд хүрлээ. Энэхүү наймааны хүрээнд Ноттингем Форест 45 сая фунт стерлингээс багагүй төлбөр төлөхөөр болсон нь тус клубийн түүхэн дэх хамгийн өндөр дүнтэй наймаа болж байна. Английн 21 хүртэлх насны шигшээ багийн гишүүн Делап ирэх лхагва гарагт эмнэлгийн үзлэгт хамрагдаж, таван жилийн гэрээ байгуулах хүлээлттэй байна.
Лиам Делап өнгөрсөн зун Ипсвичээс 30 сая фунт стерлингээр Челсид ирсэн ч бэртлийн улмаас тогтворгүй тоглолтыг үзүүлж, Премьер лигт 16 удаа сэлгээгээр болон 12 удаа гарааны бүрэлдэхүүнд багтаж, ердөө нэг гоол оруулсан юм. Тэрээр Челсигийн үндсэн багтай хамт бэлтгэл хийхгүй байсан бөгөөд даваа гарагт Фулхэмийн эсрэг хийсэн тоглолтын бүрэлдэхүүнд багтаагүй.
Ноттингем Форестийн ахлах дасгалжуулагч Оливер Гласнер Делапын хурд, хүч чадал болон хамгаалалтын шугамын ард гүйлт хийх чадвар нь багийн 3-4-2-1 тактикт төгс тохирно гэж үзэж байна. Энэ нь Ноттингем Форестийн хувьд сүүлийн нэг сарын дотор хийж буй хоёр дахь түүхэн дээд үнийн наймаа болж байгаа бөгөөд өмнө нь тэд Усман Диомандег Спортинг клубээс элсүүлсэн юм.
Тус баг довтлогч Тайво Авонийг Ковентри Сити рүү үдсэний дараа Делапыг авч байгаа бөгөөд энэ зун Усман Диоманде болон чөлөөт агент Хавер Шлагер нарыг эгнээндээ нэгтгээд байна. Хэдийгээр Ноттингем Форест Крис Вүүд болон бэлтгэлийн үеэр өндөр бүтээмж үзүүлсэн Игор Жесүс нарт итгэл хүлээлгэж байгаа ч Делапын ирэлт нь довтолгооны шугамыг улам хүчирхэгжүүлэх зорилготой юм.
Дэлгэрэнгүйг эх сурвалжаас харах
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Nottingham Forest have agreed a club-record fee for Chelsea striker Liam Delap.
The Athleticreported on Monday that Forest were in advanced talks over a deal to sign the former Ipswich forward, who has been on the club’s list of targets for several weeks.
An agreement has now been struck which, if all progresses as hoped, will see Forest pay at least £45million (€52m) for the 23-year-old, who only moved to Stamford Bridge a year ago.
The England Under-21 international is expected to sign a five-year contract at the City Ground and will undergo a medical on Wednesday.
If completed it would be the second time in a month that Forest have broken their transfer record, following Ousmane Diomande’s move from Sporting CP.
Delap had been training away from the rest of Chelsea’s first-team squad, and he was not in the matchday squad for the 3-2 victory over Fulham on Monday.
He signed a six-year contract with Chelsea upon joining the club in a £30m deal from Ipswich last summer. He endured a frustrating, injury-hit debut season, and scored once in 12 starts and 16 substitute appearances in the Premier League.
The Athleticreported on Tuesday that Chelsea are also open to selling strikers Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu, with Danny Welbeck having joined from Brighton & Hove Albion this summer.
Delap’s No 9 shirt was given to Joao Pedro this season, with the Brazilian having largely been Chelsea’s first-choice striker in the 2025-26 campaign. Delap impressed for Ipswich in the previous season, scoring 12 goals in 37 league appearances and was shortlisted for the Premier League Young Player of the Season award.
Delap’s arrival follows the departure of striker Taiwo Awoniyi to promoted side Coventry City, ending his four-year spell at Forest.
What would Delap bring to Forest?
Analysis by Nottingham Forest correspondent Paul Taylor
Liam Delap is exactly the brand of striker that Oliver Glasner has wanted to see added to the Nottingham Forest ranks.
Jean-Philippe Mateta was a key figure in his Crystal Palace side with his physical presence and work rate, and his ability to stretch opposition defences with his direct runs in behind.
And Delap, who has been on Forest’s radar for several weeks, ticks a lot of similar boxes, as well as a few more besides.
Delap is also a player who is powerful when running in behind and has the energy and determination to press opposition defenders. He is also a player who can create the gaps for the two creative No 10 type players that Glasner likes to utilise within his preferred 3-4-2-1 formation.
The former Ipswich man is also capable of carrying the ball at pace, and he more generally has a turn of speed that Forest’s head coach wants to see more of in his squad.
Glasner is a big fan of Dan Ndoye for similar reasons, although the Swiss international is not a player who is comfortable operating in the same No 9 role that Delap fills.
Forest still have great faith in veteran forward Chris Wood, while Igor Jesus scored five goals in pre-season to stake his own claim for an opportunity in the role.
But Delap, who Forest previously had an interest in when he was still at Ipswich, would be another major addition for Forest, who have already added defender Ousmane Diomande in a £35m move from Sporting CP and free agent Xaver Schlager to bolster their midfield options.
