Chelsea’s initial valuation of Liam Delap is unbelievable as Blues hand Forest ‘discount’

In the end, Chelsea made a profit from Delap’s sale after offloading him for £50m. However, there is a belief at the club that they may have actually had a centre-forward who was worth even more than that.

With Enzo Fernandez gone and Lamine Camara staying at Monaco, who should partner Moises Caicedo in midfield this season?

Chelsea think Liam Delap’s true value was £70m

Chelsea were able to sign Delap for £30m thanks to a release clause in his contract that became active following Ipswich’s relegation at the end of the 2024/25 season.

According to The Telegraph, though, Chelsea believe his value would have been nearer to £70m had the Englishman not had that release clause in his contract.

As a result, they feel that Forest have actually been given a 30% “discount”, which many would dispute.

Even if Delap was worth £70m at one stage, his value would have dipped after last season. Again, he only scored twice, finishing the campaign with just one goal in the Premier League.

Based on that, Chelsea would have been fortunate to get all their money back, let alone a £50m fee.

Liam Delap is a £40m striker at most

Chelsea, Ipswich or any other club believing that Delap was worth £70m is madness. Yes, he impressed during the 2024/25 season, and had Ipswich not been relegated, perhaps they would have slapped a £70m price tag on Delap to deter suitors. But he is not and has never been worth that.

Call it “English tax” or whatever, but Delap was not worth £70m then and is certainly not worth that now after a one-goal season in the Premier League.

At most, Chelsea and Forest should not have spent more than £40m on Delap. The Blues did not have to in the end, but Forest have and now need the 22-year-old to deliver. He is a huge investment for them.