Chelsea supporters had plenty to cheer last week when Enzo Maresca’s side triggered Liam Delap’s £30 million release clause from Ipswich, handing the young striker the No 9 jersey in time for the Club World Cup.
Chelsea step up chase for Hugo Ekitike after snaring Liam Delap
But the Blues aren’t stopping there — sources reveal that now they’ve got Delap, their gaze has firmly shifted towards Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike.
Ekitike, just 22, exploded onto the scene in Germany, netting 22 goals and 12 assists across 48 games. That form has put him under intense Premier League scrutiny, with Chelsea emerging as serious contenders.
Yet his undoubted talent comes with an equally hefty price-tag. Frankfurt are steadfastly holding out for €100 million (around £84 million), while Chelsea hint at a ceiling closer to €80 million — leaving a €20 million gap that’s proving tough to bridge.
Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg confirms that while Chelsea are pushing hard and enjoying contact with Ekitike’s camp, no formal bid has yet landed on Frankfurt’s desk — and, critically, any deal is unlikely to close before Tuesday’s 7 pm BST registration deadline for the Club World Cup.
It’s a familiar summer storyline: if Chelsea can’t bridge the valuation gap, the door likely swings open for rivals.
Liverpool, in particular, are monitoring the situation, though their priority remains Florian Wirtz.
A move for Ekitike would bolster Chelsea’s forward line just as Christopher Nkunku heads elsewhere and Delap settles in.
Still, the reality is clear — unless the Blues stretch beyond their valuation, the opportunity to add Germany’s breakout talent may have slipped.
That said, Chelsea have shown no signs of slowing. Whether they can secure Ekitike in this tight window will be a defining moment for Maresca’s ambitious summer rebuild.
