Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca believes Town striker Liam Delap can be an important player for England.
Maresca’s side are among those who have been linked with the 21-year-old, along with the England U21 international’s former club Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham, Aston Villa and Newcastle. Italian giants Juventus are also understood to have sent scouts to watch the frontman, who is contracted to the Blues until the summer of 2029.
Italian Maresca worked with Delap during his time on the City staff and, speaking in a press conference previewing Monday’s game between Town and Chelsea at Portman Road, says he thinks highly of Town’s six-goal top scorer.
"Liam is a fantastic player,” he said. "Also for his age, we spent one year together. I think in that season, he scored 22 or 24 goals.
"This is a very good striker - as I've said many times, England are quite lucky because they have very good players, very good strikers, and it is working hard off the ball, on the ball he understands the game and he can score goals. Because of his age, I think he can be an important player for England.”
Despite claims that Chelsea have opened talks with Town regarding Delap, it’s highly unlikely the Blues would looked to sell him during January.
Speaking in November, Town boss Kieran McKenna said: "I know we’ve got no interest in selling Liam and Liam’s got no interest in going anywhere else at the moment, he wants to continue to focus on his performance and his game and improving and helping the team here. That’s where everyone’s focus is.”