Overview
- Delap left Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Bournemouth in the first half after a tussle with Marcos Senesi, with VAR taking no action and the forward walking off using his shirt as a sling.
- Enzo Maresca confirmed the issue appears serious and gave no return date, noting Delap had already missed two months earlier this season with a hamstring problem.
- Multiple reports suggest a six-to-eight-week absence, but Chelsea have not issued an official timeline for the striker’s recovery.
- Club reporting indicates Chelsea will not accelerate pre-agreed signing Emanuel Emegha from Strasbourg, turning instead to Marc Guiu, Joao Pedro and Pedro Neto to cover centrally.
- The setback comes during a busy run that includes Atalanta in the Champions League and Everton in the league, with other absentees such as Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo and long-term ACL victim Levi Colwill.