Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel has said that new signing Liam Delap will only get better in front of goal.
The Nigerian recently shared that he hopes Delap will hit the ground running when the new season starts.
Speaking during an interview, Mikel revealed that even though Chelsea fans would’ve preferred Osimhen coming in ahead of Delap, the supporters will have to back the youngster all the way.
According to him, after the decision to seal the Delap transfer ahead of the other options in the transfer market, he can only hope the former Ipswich striker will succeed at Stamford Bridge.
“We need someone to come in, score goals and finish those chances. Obviously, he [Delap] isn’t the guy the fans wanted. We know who the fans wanted. The fans wanted Victor Osimhen to come to the club, but he didn’t.
Obviously the club decided to go with Delap. He’s young, he’s gonna get better. Hopefully he hits the ground running and then he’s gonna quieten those doubters. I wish him well, I hope he succeeds at this club. I think he can. The runs I saw today, running behind defenders, I think he can be the guy to finish those chances,” he said.
Obi further noted that he still believes Nicolas Jackson would be the main striker despite Delap’s signing.
He stated that the young forward will only get the opportunity to be the main guy if the Senegalese fails to score consistently once the season starts.
Mikel concluded by saying that healthy competition is always a good idea at big clubs, so he is excited to see both players fight to impress.
“But, Nic Jackson, let’s not forget, I still think he will be the main man. He just needs to work on his finishing. I still think he’s gonna be the guy to start the season.
During the season, if he’s not scoring then Delap gets his opportunity. Healthy competition is really important,” he added.
Folami David is a dynamic journalist who views the world through an analytical lens, translating complex narratives across multiple industries into compelling stories. With an insatiable appetite for information and a keen eye for emerging trends, Folami specializes in uncovering the interconnections between technology, business, culture, and society.
