Alan Shearer has advised Liam Delap to give serious consideration to his next career step, with the forward expected to depart Chelsea.
Newcastle United have shown interest in acquiring the striker from Stamford Bridge.
Delap ought to have avoided moving to Chelsea from Ipswich Town last term, but a switch to a club such as Newcastle this year would represent the right decision, according to Shearer.
St James’ Park was interested in signing the England Under-21 frontman twelve months ago, yet he chose to join Chelsea – a choice that has proven disappointing in terms of first-team opportunities and scoring.
Delap no longer fits into the plans of new boss Xabi Alonso and is working apart from the senior group pending a likely departure.
Newcastle have renewed their interest, alongside Everton and Nottingham Forest, though Chelsea’s £40m valuation has prevented any formal proposals.
The Magpies legend believes the west London switch was always unsuitable for the 23-year-old, yet a move to Newcastle in the coming months would serve as the ideal subsequent step.
Shearer stated that choosing Chelsea was always a problematic decision for Delap, given that he would never have been the primary option at that club. He suggested it would have been preferable to join another Premier League side where he could feature consistently and accumulate more experience and game time. Shearer noted that Delap’s next destination carries significant weight. He explained that this transfer may resemble what should have happened prior to the Chelsea move, meaning Delap has essentially wasted a year of crucial development. However, Shearer emphasized that genuine ability clearly exists within the player, and the focus now should be on finding someone capable of unlocking that potential. He referenced observations of Delap’s abilities during his time at Ipswich as evidence of his capabilities.
Shearer described the upcoming transfer as pivotal for Delap and characterised the next twelve months as crucial. He stressed that Delap must secure regular football, though he acknowledged this will prove challenging given his limited appearances last term and the inevitable disappointment that accompanied that situation.
Shearer expressed doubt that Delap would move to a top-tier club, suggesting instead that a mid-table side with ambitions of qualifying for European competition would be more likely. He pointed to clubs such as Aston Villa or Newcastle as potential destinations, while noting that Chelsea’s asking price will ultimately determine the outcome.