Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has claimed that Chelsea supporters preferred Napoli striker Victor Osimhen over recent signing Liam Delap, despite the latter making an immediate impact with an assist on his debut.
Delap provided an assist as Chelsea secured a 2-0 victory against Los Angeles FC in their FIFA Club World Cup group-stage encounter at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia over the weekend. Goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez sealed the win for Enzo Maresca's side.
Speaking to DAZN after the match, Mikel highlighted the disconnect between the club's transfer activity and fan expectations.
"We needed somebody to come in and score those goals [for Chelsea] and finish those chances, but obviously Delap was not the guy the fans wanted," Mikel stated. "Obviously we know who the fans wanted, the fans wanted Victor Osimhen to the football club, but he didn't."
The former Super Eagles captain added: "Delap is young. I wish him well and I hope he succeeds in this club."
Chelsea's Ongoing Interest in Osimhen
Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town after failing to reach an agreement with Napoli for Osimhen last year. However, reports suggest the London club maintains interest in the Nigerian international striker, who recently won Turkey's Goal of the Season award during his loan spell at Galatasaray.
Osimhen's future remains uncertain, with Galatasaray reportedly requesting additional time to complete a potential transfer. Meanwhile, the Turkish club is also considering Newcastle's Alexander Isak as an alternative should their pursuit of Osimhen fail.
Chelsea's striker situation continues to evolve as they navigate the FIFA Club World Cup while simultaneously working on potential transfers to strengthen their squad for the remainder of the season.
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