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News
- 4 hours ago
Chelsea to replace 'embarrassing' Delap in January? Emegha decision made
Tom Weber
- Updated: 31 Oct 2025 18:13 GMT
- 4 min read
News
Strasbourg striker Emanuel Emegha will only join Chelsea after next summer's World Cup, and the Blues are not planning to sign a striker in January despite Liam Delap's recent fall from grace.
The England youth international returned to the pitch after a lengthy injury layoff in midweek, which was a welcome boost for Enzo Maresca as Joao Pedro's goals had dried up.
Prior to Delap's return, Maresca openly admitted that Chelsea lack a clinical No.9 in the mould of Erling Haaland, so the summer signing provided some much-needed firepower.
Current ETV
Liam Delap
F (C), AM (R)
Chelsea
Liam Delap
F (C), AM (R)
Chelsea
ETV Range
€18.1M - €22.1M
However, Delap's comeback quickly turned into a disaster as he got himself sent off with two needless yellow cards, prompting Maresca to label his actions 'embarrassing' after the game.
This has given rise to speculation that Delap could effectively be replaced by a new signing in January, but TEAMtalk reports that Chelsea continue to back the 22-year-old.
Chelsea won't sign any strikers in January
Chelsea have no plans to sign a striker in January, primarily because they have already announced that Strasbourg forward Emanuel Emegha will join in 2026.
At the time, they did not disclose whether he would arrive in January or the summer. Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano previously refused to rule out a move in January.
However, Ben Jacobs now reports that Emegha will only join in the summer, after the World Cup. If fit, he is expected to be part of Ronald Koeman's Netherlands squad for the tournament in the US, Canada and Mexico.
Emegha is currently nursing an injury and may not have been much of a January reinforcement anyway. He has already been out for several weeks, and reports in France suggest that he is facing at least another three weeks on the sidelines.
With Ligue 1 heading into a winter break in early December, Emegha would have arrived at Chelsea in January lacking match fitness and sharpness.
Chelsea's decision not to sign anyone in January also means that they will not bring in fellow Strasbourg forward Joaquin Panichelli, who has become the subject of rumours due to his stunning form.
Strasbourg president Marc Keller has claimed that he will try to limit players going from his club to Chelsea to one per season, which appears to rule out a move for Panichelli in 2026.
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