Delap issue solved as Chelsea's £5m Sancho blow gives £30m striker welcome gift

Chelsea are close to sealing a £30million deal to sign Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, with the striker set to be offered a perk with Jadon Sancho's loan ending as he heads back to Manchester United

Liam Delap could be set to take the number 19 shirt at Chelsea, as Jadon Sancho prepares to return to Manchester United. Chelsea are close to securing the signing of the Ipswich Town forward after triggering his £30million release clause.

The 22-year-old striker is now poised to make the switch to Stamford Bridge, having been offered a six-year contract following a medical earlier this week. Despite Ipswich's relegation to the Championship, Delap made a significant impact in his first full Premier League season, scoring 12 times in 37 league appearances while wearing the number 19 shirt.

With Sancho returning to his parent club, the shirt is now available for Delap, should he choose to take it. Sancho has worn the number since his loan move to Chelsea last summer.

Delap also wore the number 48 shirt during his time at Manchester City, a number that is currently unassigned at Chelsea. However, the prospect of wearing the same number he wore while making his mark in the Premier League and for England may be too enticing to resist, reports Football London.

Sancho, 25, is expected to depart west London when his contract expires at the end of June, resulting in a £5m loss for Chelsea.

It's understood that a permanent move for Sancho fell through after personal terms could not be agreed between the club and the former Borussia Dortmund star.

Chelsea will now be hit with a whopping £5m penalty fee to United after backing out of the agreed commitment to sign the winger for £25m.

Sancho found the back of the net five times and set up another ten goals in 42 matches for Chelsea this season. Despite his inconsistent time under Enzo Maresca, he did score the third goal in Chelsea's 4-1 win over Real Betis in the UEFA Conference League final.

The Italian manager sang Sancho's praises after the game. "Jadon Sancho, if we finished fourth, it's because of Jadon, if we won tonight it's because of Jadon," Maresca said. "Everyone is up and down a little bit, that's part of the game."

After making 83 appearances following his transfer from Dortmund to Man United in summer 2021 for a mammoth £73m – and not always seeing eye to eye with then-boss Erik ten Hag – Sancho seems set for an Old Trafford return to potentially work under Ruben Amorim.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are set to accelerate their business in the transfer window once a swoop for Delap is wrapped up. Maresca's side have made an approach to AC Milan to sign French goalkeeper Mike Maignan this summer.

Dortmund's 20-year English winger Jamie Gittens and Eintracht Frankfurt's French striker Hugo Ekitike are also thought to be of interest to the Blues.