Chelsea have triggered the £30 million relegation release clause in Blues striker Liam Delap’s contract.

TWTD revealed on Tuesday that the West Londoners were in pole position to sign the 22-year-old, who has spoken to a number of sides over the last fortnight.

Earlier, it emerged that some of those clubs had been told Delap had made his decision and would be moving elsewhere.

Now, Chelsea have triggered the release clause with agreeing personal terms a formality with the short 10-day first mini-transfer window of the summer set to open on Sunday.

That has been introduced ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup but it’s understood Delap wouldn’t be able to play for Chelsea in that competition as he’ll be with the England U21s at the European Championship in Slovakia.

The Winchester-born frontman previously worked with Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca during his spell as U21s manager at Manchester City where he came through the ranks alongside Cole Palmer.

Delap joined the Blues for an initial £15 million last summer from City, who are understood to be due 20 per cent of Town’s profit.

The one-time Derby County academy youngster played his final game for Town against West Ham United on Sunday, coming on as a second-half sub.

In total, he made 32 starts and eight sub appearances in his one campaign with the club, scoring 12 times.

During the discussions regarding the Delap move, Town have enquired about taking Chelsea striker Marc Guiu on loan but with the 19-year-old understood to be unconvinced by the prospect of the switch.

Photo: Matchday Images

Carberry added 01:29 - May 30 We've actually lost £10m on the deal...by being relegated.
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Dissboyitfc added 06:25 - May 30 perfect example of glass half empty, if we hadn't won promotion we wouldn't have made the profit! Dont moan about what we think we should have, celebrate what we do have, positivity is the only thing that is going to take us forward again! We are all diasapointed with how the season has ended up, i cast my memory back to 3 or 4 seasons ago, we were rudderless and sailing into oblivion! Some people have short memories and come next season all whats being said now will be forgotten!

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Dutchman1 added 06:52 - May 30 Good for half a season and I prefer George Hirst. Take the money and move on.
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BangaloreBlues added 08:44 - May 30 I have to admit, that last paragraph made me chuckle! Good luck to Liam, I hope he will become one of the national team's greatest assets.
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Alphawhiskey added 08:56 - May 30 Take the money and run! Personally, I want players here that are committed to the cause and are loyal to the club. Not someone who jumps ship at the first opportunity. I hope he has a padded seat in the dugout as he will be sitting down lot. Should have stayed another season and been loyal to the people who helped him develop this season. He signed a 5 year contract with the club. Honour that contract Liam. Contracts aren't worth s**t anymore. Half decent player when he bothers to show up, not scored in 15 games. Is he all that? That remains to be seen. Maybe he is the next Kane? I doubt it being honest. £30 million for Chelsea is nothing. They can afford to lose it if he turns out a flop, its what they always do. Snap up players to stop others teams from getting them. Spend the 12 million on a few good players who want to be here. Hirst is a much better all round striker anyway. Good luck Liam, You're going to need it my friend....

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ImAbeliever added 09:04 - May 30 Too many positives above to up-tick. As for the negatives, where were they last summer? - silent.! Good business - good luck Liam Delap.
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insignificants added 09:57 - May 30 CavendishBlue...The only thing that will go up is Delap's salary. The club will only get £30 million.
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Bert added 11:41 - May 30 Blueboy must be the most negative, rude and disrespectful poster on here. According to him if you disagree with him you are either deluded or an idiot. Everyone’s opinion is valid but some are more insightful and thoughtful than others.
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bobble added 12:06 - May 30 We were a better team than chelsea surely ?
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Widj123 added 12:24 - May 30 Just shows how pathetic this club has become even signing a player like that with a ridiculous release clause Ashton out and take McKenna with you
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Tedray added 12:34 - May 30 Sorry to labour the point and although of course I do not know the full circumstances in which Liam Delap joined the club ,on the surface it looks like a huge opportunity missed.It appears that owing to the release clause. Man Citys cut player wages Ipswich will only receive a disappointing return It is difficult to evaluate what he brought to the club,yes there were periods of excitment ,the manager may have improved him, but that was for someone else Liam was never going to be able to provide enough goaLs for our salvation so the best prospect was to sell him on at a healthy profit which of course was denied by the release clause.In view of his age,ability, and potential one would think that his current value should be c£60 million. Question....should we not have been able to fund the new training centre out of this deal

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TimmyH added 14:17 - May 30 Who cares...lets sell him take the revenue and move on.
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virginblue added 14:21 - May 30 Just lol Blueboy. I’m prepared to back my opinion against yours, not invest in a football club.
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virginblue added 15:01 - May 30 People saying he’s not honouring his contract. His contract literally has a relegation clause, which he is more than entitled to execute. Wish he wasn’t going to Chelsea as I’d like to see him fulfil his potential
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Jugsy added 15:45 - May 30 Blueboy1981 - why are you so hung up on your entitlement to be negative? Bet you're fun at parties. wolfyattheback - why is this a bad deal and why do you think we're not well protected? This isn't a subjective point, Ashton is the closest to the running of our club and he'll know what's required to protect the books, whilst trying to negotiate contracts and get the best talent through the door. So i'm inclined to back him and trust his judgement on this. Darkhorse - to mention Evans as world class... he was so far from being world class that it's not even amusing. Evans made sure we didn't go under and that is all he can be credited with. His 'world class' ownership binned us in League One, with some of the worst management selection to ever walk through this club. Out of interest, @blueboy1981, is that negative enough for you?

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Carberry added 18:36 - May 30 Out of interest, was Delap one of the players we bought becaise we knew we were getting relegated and he would get us out of the Championship again? And if Hirst is a better player than him why isn't there a queue for his services?
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Linkboy13 added 19:11 - May 30 Good point Carberry but with fans it's not about ability it's all about popularity we all know Delap is a better player than Hirst that's why there is so much interest in him Hirst is never going to stay fit for long spells so we have to sign another quality striker.
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OxtonBlue added 19:13 - May 30 Am I being thick or is it not 20% of £30m i.e. the selling on fee rather than profit ? That's £6m, so we'd get £9m profit???!
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virginblue added 19:51 - May 30 You’re right, you’re being thick. Sell on fees are almost always on the profit - anything else would be mental.
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DavoIPB added 07:46 - May 31 Has a good shot, very selfish. Got good physical strength but no footballing brain with it. Terrible touch, poor passing ability seems to try tricks and then loses the ball. Had a good half a season and then did nothing. Can't really see what all the fuss is about. Take the money. 12mil is a lot in the championship and will get us a really decent player i.e Cajuste or similar player from foreign club if we invest wisely.

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Linkboy13 added 10:43 - May 31 Cajuste is not going to want to play in the championship it would damage his chances of playing for Sweden dream on.
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BeattiesBackPocket added 23:10 - May 31 Well to the moaners on here it mainly blue boy and Widj123 it appears from Ashtons interview my comment was right. It was the players reps who said this was their players request as didn’t want to be proved out of a move to the prem if relegation happened. So would you rather as I said previously make 10 mill in one season from someone who was by most of the same idiots on here and I quote ‘not good enough for the championship’ or not get him and make 10 million in the process?? Some proper lack of football knowledge on this page from the same moaners.

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