Liam Delap brushes off Chelsea's No.9 'curse', eyes England call-up

The young striker arrived at Chelsea shortly before their Club World Cup campaign, with several Premier League rivals – including Manchester United, Newcastle, and Everton – also interested in activating his relatively modest release clause. In the end, Delap says, it came down to intuition.

"You never really know if you're making the perfect choice, but sometimes you just have to trust your gut," he explained. "I took a bit of time, spoke with the right people, and in the end, Chelsea felt right.

"It wasn't just about playing in the Champions League – it was about the long-term vision. I've worked with the manager before, I know his style, and I'm familiar with quite a few of the lads here. That connection made the difference."

Now set to compete for a place alongside Nicolas Jackson, the 22-year-old is clear about his mindset when it comes to shirt numbers. "To me, it's just a number," he said when asked about the No.9. "Rooney wore it, Ronaldo too – it's always been linked to strikers. I see it as a symbol of the position, not a burden."

The Englishman, who impressed while playing through injury during a tough spell at Ipswich, is now eyeing a place in England's squad for the upcoming World Cup.

His robust, old-school approach to leading the line has drawn praise, and with a fresh start at Chelsea, the player hopes to continue his upward trajectory at the very highest level.