Chelsea Face Striker Shuffle as Forest Circle Delap and Welbeck Deal Nears

Chelsea's attacking overhaul is taking shape with Nottingham Forest reigniting their pursuit of Liam Delap while the Blues edge closer to signing Brighton's Danny Welbeck, according to multiple reports. Forest have revived their interest in the 23-year-old striker, whom they targeted last summer before Delap opted for a €35 million (£30m) move to Stamford Bridge. The media understands that the Midlands club are keen to secure his services again as manager Oliver Glasner looks to bolster his frontline. Delap's debut season in west London was underwhelming. The former Ipswich Town loan star managed just one Premier League goal in 28 appearances, struggling with both form and fitness after netting 12 times in 37 top-flight games for the Tractor Boys in 2024-25. sources's Nizaar Kinsella reports that Chelsea plan to move on two strikers this summer, making Delap a prime candidate for departure. The Blues' need for forward reinforcements has intensified as they push for Welbeck. According to the media's Kieran Gill, Chelsea are working on a deal for the 35-year-old Brighton veteran. While no fee has been agreed between the clubs, transfer insider insider claims personal terms are close to being finalized. "Chelsea are closing in on an agreement with the player in terms of personal terms," Romano said on his YouTube channel. "From the same agency, Chelsea already signed a talented boy, Harrison Bettoni, who joined a few weeks ago. Now Chelsea are proceeding with this opportunity to get Danny Welbeck. They need to negotiate and agree a fee with Brighton because the player is under contract and for Brighton he is obviously an important player. But the conversation is under way." Should the Welbeck transfer go through, speculation around Delap's future will only intensify. Before joining Chelsea, Delap had offers from Forest, Everton, and Newcastle United - and Forest are now back in the hunt under new boss Glasner, who replaced Steve Cooper at the City Ground. Glasner, appointed on July 6, returned to management after leaving Crystal Palace, where he won the FA Cup, UEFA Conference League, and Community Shield, earning a reputation as the club's greatest-ever manager.