Gary Cahill has defended Chelsea's transfer policy, claiming the "talented" Liam Delap can become a 20-goal-per-season striker for the Blues.
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Delap joined earlier this summer from IpswichCahill: "The squad looks good"Competition for places gives players a "buzz" Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The former centre back was speaking to about the Blues' transfer business so far this summer. Chelsea's decision to add attacking talent in Estevao and Joao Pedro has led to criticism in some parts, as the squad is stuffed with players of a similar profile. However, the signing of Delap to provide competition for Nicolas Jackson at the cut-rate price of £30m made sense to Cahill. Chelsea have been reliant on Cole Palmer to score the goals, especially last term when Jackson went on a 13-game goalless run in the Premier League.
AdvertisementGetty Images EntertainmentTHE BIGGER PICTURE
The former England international actually went a step further and defended the club for their transfer policy as a whole. He suggested Enzo Maresca's core squad from last season remains in tact, while new additions are adding an extra buzz of competition within the team, something he thrived on as a player.
WHAT CAHILL SAID
Cahill said: "It’s hard to know if Chelsea will spend more money because I do think the squad looks good. I’ve always said they needed a proper 20-goal-a-season striker and I think Liam Delap fits the bill perfectly. He looks great business to me and I think he’ll do really well at Chelsea.
“Cole Palmer has been the top goalscorer the last two seasons, and we all know how talented he is, but he’s a midfielder at the end of the day. Chelsea need a striker scoring the majority of their goals if they want to go to the next level.
“A striker that scores 20-plus goals a season is worth, I can’t tell you how many league positions… and that’s why they are so hard to come by.
“They’ve managed to keep the core of the squad that did so well last season is still there and they’ve just sprinkled it with players in positions they needed cover in, like a centre forward.
“I know there’s been a lot of players coming and going through the door recently but I don’t think that should be seen as a negative for the players that are already there. When I was playing, new team-mates excited me because, nine times out of 10, that player is someone the club feels is going to make the team better and that can’t be a bad thing.
“There’s competition for places throughout the Premier League but, the higher up the division you go, the more competitive it gets. When I was at Chelsea we had five world-class international centre-backs all competing for two spots in the team.
“If it’s done in the right way, it can almost fizz the team up and give everyone a bit of a buzz. The transfer business so far this summer should do that.”
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR DELAP?
The City graduate will hope to prove Cahill right in his debut season for the Blues. He opened his account as a Chelsea player with a goal in the club's 3-0 win over ES Tunis in the Club World Cup. Stiffer competition against Champions League and Premier League opposition awaits once the 2025-26 season starts in earnest.
