Enzo Maresca supported Liam Delap to be “England's future number nine” after his move to Chelsea.
The blues signed Delap from Ipswich Town for a reported £ 30 million, with the striker signing a six -year contract with Stamford Bridge.
The Italian manager previously worked with Delap during his time in Manchester City and coached the attacker at level below 21.
Delap ended the 2024-25 season with 12 Premier League goals. Only Marcus Stewart scored more for Ipswich during a single campaign in the competition, with 19 in 2000-01.
He on average every 217.7 minutes in the competition and became the youngest player who scored in back-to-back home Premier League performances for Ipswich, and the first player to do this generally for the club since Finidi George George in March 2002.
The 12 goals from Delap came from 9.3 expected goals – an over performance of 2.7. No other Ipswich player had an XG over performance higher than 0.9.
Maresca confirmed that the new number nine from Chelsea does not show nerves and can improve his game at the London Club.
“Liam knows very well how important the number nine is for this club … I see him quite relaxed, easy, he is doing well. Since he arrived, he has been working well,” said Maresca.
“We know each other years ago, so I know what Liam can give us, he knows what we can give him to improve and become a better player.
“He wanted to come to us because he knows how we play, the season we were together … He scored 24 goals.
“I don't doubt that in the future he can be nine in the song of England.”
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Chelsea faces Los Angeles FC in their first club World Cup match on June 16, but Maresca did not confirm whether Delap would get his first start for Nicolas Jackson.
'I never tell you to a player [will] Be a first choice, the message is always the same: you arrive, you work hard, you work more than the other number nine [and you can be]”Maresca added.