Chelsea new boy Liam Delap backed to succeed Harry Kane as England’s No.9

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has urged new signing Liam Delap to succeed Harry Kane as England’s No.9.

Delap joined the Conference League winners from Ipswich Town on a long-term deal and has been added to the Blues’ squad for the Club World Cup.

As a result, he missed the U21 Euros despite being named in Lee Carsley’s squad to attend a pre-tournament camp at St George’s Park.

The 22-year-old scored 12 goals in 37 Premier League appearances last term for Ipswich.

Maresca said: “I don’t have any doubt that he can be, in the future, the England No.9. Liam knows quite well how important the No.9 is for this club.

“Personally I don’t see any problem about that. I see a Liam that is quite relaxed, he’s doing well.

“We know each other already, I know what Liam can give us, he knows what we can give to him to improve and to become a better player. And again in terms of No.9, hopefully he can score goals for us.”

Delap is among four new players in Chelsea’s squad following the arrivals of Andrey Santos, Dario Essugo, Mamadou Sarr, and Mike Penders.

Maresca, however, revealed that Delap will have to compete with Nicolas Jackson to earn a starting place.

He added: “I never say to a player you are going to be first choice.

“The message is always the same: you arrive, you work hard, you work more than the other No.9 and you’ll be No.9 first choice. So the conversation with Liam has been quite clear.

“He was keen to join us because he knows the way we play from the season that we were together at Manchester City.”

Chelsea take on Los Angeles FC in their Club World Cup opener on Monday in Atlanta.