Gary Cahill reckons Chelsea transfer can single-handedly change Premier League hopes

Stamford Bridge is buzzing with the arrival of new talent this summer, and it's Liam Delap who has caught the eye of former Chelseacaptain Gary Cahill. Delap's performances at the FIFA Club World Cup have only heightened the anticipation.

Chelsea have splashed out approximately £210million on squad reinforcements, with Delap emerging as one of their shrewdest acquisitions. The Blues activated the £30m buyout clause in his Ipswich Town contract, paying an initial £20m to secure his services in June.

The 22-year-old forward has bravely donned Chelsea's 'cursed' No. 9 shirt, aiming to achieve what predecessors like Fernando Torres, Gonzalo Higuain, Radamel Falcao, and Alvaro Morata could not. Early indications suggest that the ex-Manchester City talent might be the one to lift the curse.

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Cahill, speaking with the Mirror, courtesy of BetMGM, expressed his enthusiasm for the new addition, saying: "Obviously, the big one is Liam Delap. I think there was obviously a need to add a striker.

"Like everyone in the Premier League, you're looking for goals, aren't you? I think Cole Palmer's been the top goalscorer in the last couple of seasons as a No. 10 midfielder. So, they needed some firepower up there, and I really like him."

Palmer topped the scoring charts for Chelsea last season with an impressive 16 goals in all competitions, while Christopher Nkunku was hot on his heels with 15, albeit only three of those were netted in the Premier League.

Nicolas Jackson was Enzo Maresca's preferred leading man, tallying 13 goals from 37 outings, and Noni Madueke occasionally stepped in as a makeshift forward, contributing 11 goals from 46 matches.

Jackson, at 24, had his 2024/25 season marred by injuries and was sent off for the second time during the Club World Cup. This inconsistency in availability could bolster Delap's prospects for getting picked, particularly after he made a mark with his debut goal and assist that helped propel Chelsea to the competition's final.

Former Blue Cahill, who boasts 290 appearances for the club, continued about Delap, adding: "I've seen him a few times for Ipswich last season.

"He is an out-and-out No. 9, which I think is a good thing for Chelsea. He works hard, strong, physical, runs in behind, technically decent. So I'm very excited to see how he gets on there.

"I think talent-wise, he certainly makes the grade. It'll be interesting to see how he manages that step up into a huge club. No disrespect to Ipswich.

"I'm talking about an environment, so it'll be interesting to see how he gets on there. But from the clips I've seen of him in the Club World Cup, he looks very exciting. I think that's great business."

It's hard to dispute the reasoning, considering Delap was once tipped for a breakthrough into Manchester City's first team. Manchester United also expressed interest in signing the player, but the familiar presence of Palmer and Maresca, both known to him from his City days, swayed the decision in Chelsea's favour.

As a two-time Premier League champion and holder of a Champions League medal, Cahill has shared the pitch with an array of top-flight talent. Indications are promising that Delap could be the attacking force Chelsea have been seeking.