Chelsea Football Club is set to ask Liam Delap, a promising young talent, to prioritize the Club World Cup matches over his national duty for England. This move could potentially ignite another club-against-country row this summer.
Delap is on the verge of reuniting with Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge after Ipswich Town accepted a £30 million release clause. However, he has also been preparing for the Under-21 Euros in Slovakia where Lee Carsley’s side will defend their title.
Despite his eagerness to represent England, sources within Chelsea anticipate that they will request his release should he finalize his move before FIFA’s expanded club competition commences on June 14.
Balancing national and club duties
Delap was expected to start for Carsley in England’s opener against Czech Republic on June 12. Further group-stage matches against Slovenia and Germany were also on the cards. However, these plans may be disrupted if he chooses club over country.
The upcoming Club World Cup in the United States takes precedence over internationals due to its significance as per FIFA guidelines. This shift reflects a historical change as traditionally international duties have taken priority.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola raised questions about who pays players’ salaries when Rico Lewis and James McAtee were requested by the Football Association for under-21 tournament participation which coincides with City’s involvement in the Club World Cup.
Promising talent
Having won the 2022 European Under-19 Championship held in Slovakia, Delap had set his sights on another winners’ medal following an impressive breakthrough season in Premier League where he scored 12 goals during his rookie campaign. His low release clause attracted interest from several clubs including Manchester United but ultimately it was Chelsea that caught Delap's eye due largely because of Maresca, who he knew from his time at Manchester City’s academy. The deal is yet to be finalized with personal terms still under negotiation. If all goes well, a medical is scheduled for Monday.
Delap's potential move could kickstart a busy summer in the striker market. The Etihad graduate offers attributes that other strikers of his age do not possess according to Dean Holden, who scouted Delap for Stoke City before a loan at the Bet365 Stadium. Chelsea also have Reece James, Levi Colwill, Trevoh Chalobah, Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke called up to Thomas Tuchel’s senior squad. They are set to play a friendly against Senegal on June 10 which comes six days before Maresca’s team have their tournament opener.
Chelsea's request for Delap to prioritize club over country underscores the increasing importance of club competitions like the Club World Cup. It remains to be seen how this will impact player decisions and international football in general moving forward.
