Liam Delap could soon depart from Chelsea Football Club just a year after joining, with Aston Villa reportedly interested in acquiring him.

Following the completion of a record-breaking £117m deal for Morgan Rogers, Chelsea is now focused on balancing its books. Rogers was officially presented as a Blue today, prompting the club to explore avenues to recoup some of that hefty expenditure.

Key points about Delap's situation:

• Aston Villa has been offered Delap as part of Chelsea's strategy.
• New manager Xabi Alonso believes Delap is “surplus to requirements” after a short training period.
• Delap scored only one Premier League goal last season, making him a challenging asset to sell.

Chelsea is contemplating a strategy similar to that of Alejandro Garnacho, who is nearing a loan move to Villa with an option for a permanent transfer.

Delap, who joined Chelsea from Ipswich Town for £30m, could be loaned to Villa with a potential buy clause if he performs well. This approach may allow Chelsea to recover their investment while giving Delap the opportunity to regain his form and confidence on the pitch. The club hopes to navigate this situation effectively as the summer transfer window progresses.