Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Chelsea, Premier League, Transfers
Ryan Smart
Chelsea are reportedly closing in on their first signing of the summer after winning the Conference League final.
Enzo Maresca's side defeated Real Betis 4-1 in Wroclaw, Poland, to become the first club to win all three major European trophies.
Goals from Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo secured the final win for the Blues, who went behind in the first half through Abde Ezzalzouli's strike.
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As soon as the final finishes, the Blues will begin preparations for next month's Club World Cup.
Due to the new tournament, the summer transfer window will be split into two timeframes, with the first of those lasting from June 1-10.
And it appears that Chelsea are working hard behind-the-scenes to complete deals within that window.
According to talkSPORT, they are 'closing in' on a move to sign striker Liam Delap from relegated Ipswich Town.
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The former Manchester City forward scored 12 goals in a struggling Ipswich side this season, and has a release clause of £30 million due to the Tractor Boys' relegation.
Their instant return to the second tier was confirmed last month, with Premier League teams therefore given plenty of time to ready bids.
It is now reported that Chelsea are set to win the race to sign Delap, having secured Champions League football via their Premier League finishing position regardless of tonight's result.
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Newcastle were also believed to be interested in the 22-year-old, having also qualified for the Champions League football by finishing fifth in the league.
Manchester United's lack of European football for next season is said to have ultimately ended their chances of bringing the striker to Old Trafford.
Speaking before Ipswich's final match of the campaign - a 3-1 home defeat to West Ham - Tractor Boys manager Kieran McKenna confirmed that Delap was 'likely' to move on this summer.
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"It looks, I think, more than likely than not that he'll move on this summer," he said. "He's got interest from pretty much every club in the league. I don't think there's many clubs in the world that wouldn't want to have him.
"That process will take its course, and we'll be proud of the part we've had in terms of Liam's development and his contribution this season. If he stays with us, we'll be delighted."