Emmanuel Petit fears incoming Chelsea signing Liam Delap isn’t the man to break the club’s cursed striker position.
Fresh from their successful end to the season, which culminated in Champions League qualification and a Conference League triumph, the Blues appear to be wasting little time in the transfer market.
Chelsea are hoping for a quick resolution on the future of Jadon Sancho and are close to completing a deal for Delap after activating his £30million release clause.
The 22-year-old scored 12 goals in 40 appearances for an Ipswich side that struggled badly last season and was relegated back to The Championship.
Delap only joined the Tractor Boys in a £15m move from Manchester City but impressed with his finishing power and brute strength which unsettled many a top flight defender.
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Chelsea are also said to be in the running to sign Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres as potential alternatives to Nicolas Jackson, and although Petit has been impressed by Delap he fears he would struggle to cope with being the main man at Stamford Bridge next season.
‘Liam Delap has quality, I think he has done a great job at Ipswich, but it’s a huge step,’ he told PokerStrategy.
‘He has a really bright future and I have respect for him, but going from Ipswich to Chelsea is huge in terms of expectation and pressure, that number nine position at Chelsea has been a curse for so many players.
‘Chelsea need a striker who is going to score 25 goals a season, will Delap give you that? I’m not so sure.’
Petit, however, is far more confident about the talents of another youngster, Andrey Santos, who ehannced his reputation last term while on loan at Strasbourg.
It remains to be seen whether or not the Brazilian youngster will return to his parent club and become part of Enzo Maresca’s first team squad next term and the uncertainty has alerted rival clubs, including Arsenal.
‘Andrey Santos is having a great season at Strasbourg, so is Djorde Petrovic, they are having a great season as a team and it’s been a big surprise,’ he said.
Like Brest in the season before, they are fighting for a Champions League spot and they have played beautiful football. Santos is a young player who has improved a lot since last season, he can do whatever he wants on the pitch.
He can play as a central midfielder, a holding midfielder or elsewhere, he can do everything. He can score and assist and is a very talented player with a bright future ahead of him.
I think he could be the answer for Chelsea in midfield with Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, I think he is the missing link.
Romeo Lavia is a good player but he is still learning. I just think that Santos will fit in perfectly at Chelsea.
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