Jackson and Delap Set for Chelsea Exit Amidst Attack Overhaul

Nicolas Jackson and Liam Delap look set to be the next casualties of Chelsea’s attacking overhaul, with both forwards expected to leave before the transfer window closes.

Neither player made Xabi Alonso’s matchday squad for the 3-1 win over Real Sociedad on Sunday, a clear signal of where they now sit in the pecking order as speculation around their futures intensifies.

Jackson is back at Stamford Bridge after a season on loan at Bayern Munich, but his return already feels temporary. Aston Villa are pushing to sign the Senegal international, and Chelsea are understood to value him at around £65m. For a club still reshaping its squad and its balance sheet, that is a significant potential sale.

Delap’s situation is even more stark. After a disappointing first campaign in blue, he has been told he can go. Two goals in 41 appearances have not convinced Chelsea that he is part of the long-term plan, and the club are ready to sanction his departure just a year after paying £30m to bring him in from Ipswich.

Interest is not in short supply. Como have made their move from Serie A, sounding out a deal for the 23-year-old, but Delap would rather stay in the Premier League. Everton, Fulham and Nottingham Forest have all been linked as possible destinations, clubs where regular minutes and a central role feel more realistic than at Stamford Bridge.

The direction of travel is clear. According to Sky Sports, both Jackson and Delap are now considered likely to leave before the window shuts, with Alonso prepared to go into the season relying on Joao Pedro and Danny Welbeck as his primary options through the middle.

Two strikers edging towards the door, a new hierarchy forming up front, and a manager making hard calls early. Chelsea’s attack is being stripped back and rebuilt — the only question now is who lands Jackson and Delap, and how quickly those decisions reshape the rest of the market.