26 Jun 2026 09:23:57
From what I read it’s looking like 8 of the existing squad are going to be released and or sold, (Patterson, Beto, Barry, Iroegbunam, Ndiaye, Gana, O’Neil and Alcaraz) . Possibly to be replaced with Spence, Stones, Hackney, Bowen, Delap, Parrott, Grealish and George.
Would this give us a stronger squad if it where to happen?
26 Jun 2026 10:28:32
We won't improve next season with Moyes.
26 Jun 2026 10:40:26
We need better than that to improve. Getting Stones and Grealish would put a serious dent in the wage budget.
26 Jun 2026 11:31:21
Think Moyes would want to keep Beto, so we won't get Parrott and Delap. Bowen, George and Grealish, highly unlikely.
Spence and Hackney would be good, but do not want Stones, his best days are gone.
So we would possibly be bringing in five and letting seven go. That, to me, is not building a squad. Unless, of course, we fill the bench with youngsters who will never play.
26 Jun 2026 11:41:56
Totally agree Bmd, both Stones and Grealish would be very expensive fitness risks in terms of their wages. Stones has been injury prone for many years now, was a very good player at one time, but we need someone younger and more reliable particularly if Branthwaite is going to be absent for periods.
Delap, for me, sounds to be expensive at 40m for a player who has had one good season in the Championship and has no record to speak of in the Premiership.
26 Jun 2026 12:08:07
Delap for me would make sense as a 12 month loan with sensible option to buy thereafter.
Stones. There seems to be a modern trend of bringing in senior internationals and proven winners into squads, even if they don't play regularly. We could possibly be losing both Colman and Gana.
Even if he doesn't play regularly, having those qualities are partly why he (and Henderson) are currently in the England squad. He certainly improves our squad. I get the wages argument, but we don't know what he wants.
Both improve our squad for me.
26 Jun 2026 12:08:31
Delap 1 goal all season.
Parrot 25 goals in 36 games + 5 international goals.
I know which one I prefer. I know no-one comes with a guarantee of goals, but those numbers seem to speak for themselves.
26 Jun 2026 13:00:19
Delap's goal record last season was poor, but if he were to play regularly? There is a good player here that needs the right team to play for. That's why I'd risk him with a loan spot.
He's got a bit of devilment about him that we've badly lacked up front for a long time.
He's also another player who was part of that England u21 squad that won the Euros a few years ago. Interestingly, so were Garner, Hackney, Spence.
26 Jun 2026 13:30:32
What would Delap bring to the team. He's slow, can't hold the ball up, he's similar to Beto but not as quick. He looked decent in a crap relegation fighting Ipswich team. Looks out his depth at Chelsea. Would've been better keeping dcl.
26 Jun 2026 14:10:53
Sounds sensible solution Djs, on Delap, if Chelsea were amenable to a loan only, probably want cash though, as they are rebuilding also.
Personally, I would like to see Bowen at the club, but I have read would be reluctant to leave London.
26 Jun 2026 16:50:50
I don't know which Delap some of our posters have been watching, but no resemblance to the lad I have watched. Beto would have scored a hatfull in that Chelsea side.
27 Jun 2026 11:50:45
Delap kept giving stupid freekicks away when I watched him last season, trying to be the big hard man, and you can't do that in this day and age with VAR. He would be suspended more than he played.