Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca says a Nicolas Jackson clone would be his ideal striker signing this summer as he labels target Liam Delap an ‘enemy’ this weekend ahead of Ipswich clash
- Chelsea are in the hunt for a new forward in the summer transfer window
- Blues face stiff competition to sign Liam Delap, who has a £30m release clause
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Enzo Maresca says he would take a clone of Nicolas Jackson when Chelsea sign a striker this summer and described Ipswich’s Liam Delap, who is high on their list of targets, as an ‘enemy’ at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Thanks to a release clause, Delap is set to be available for as low as £30million if Ipswich are relegated from the Premier League. Chelsea face stiff competition from others in order to land the 22-year-old with Manchester United also interested.
Reporters quizzed Maresca on Delap as he previewed the visit of Ipswich this weekend and, while bigging up the youngster with whom he worked in Manchester City’s academy, the Blues boss also hailed Jackson as his perfect centre forward.
‘He’s doing fantastic,’ Maresca said on Delap’s progress in his first full Premier League season. ‘He’s scored 12 goals already. But it’s not just in terms of his numbers. The way he plays and fights and is always ‘there’.
‘But he’s an Ipswich player. He’s an enemy on Sunday because we need to beat them, and then after the game, I wish him all the best for the future.
‘To compare Liam with Harry Kane and Erling Haaland, I think it’s a bit early. But for sure, in terms of style, he’s that kind of player. They are all real nines. They are nines inside the box.
Enzo Maresca was full of praise for Nicolas Jackson ahead of Sunday’s clash with Ipswich
Maresca said a clone of Jackson would be the type of player he is looking for this summer
Chelsea face stiff competition from others in order to land the 22-year-old forward Liam Delap
‘But we also have a good nine. Nico is doing well since we started. Unfortunately, we’ve missed him, and sometimes you need to miss players to realise how important they are for you.
‘With Nico, we are a completely different team compared to when he was injured. We are happy with Nico as our striker.’
Asked to explain his perfect profile for a striker, Maresca said: ‘My perfect No 9 is exactly Nico Jackson. We already have a No 9. It’s not the summer now. If we can have a copy of Nico, it’s OK. With Nico, we are a better team. Nico is the one we need.
‘We are happy with Nico. And about next season? It’s not the moment (to talk about transfers).’
Chelsea face a challenging run-in compared to their rivals, but can stay within the Champions League positions by beating Ipswich, who are 12 points from safety in the Premier League.
They can at least feel assured that they are set for the Conference League’s semi-finals after defeating Legia Warsaw 3-0 in their first leg away from home on Thursday.
