Following a £15m switch from Manchester City, Delap had an impressive debut season for the newly-promoted Blues in 2024/25, bashing up centre-halves and scoring 12 goals in a relegated team.
Several Premier League clubs showed interest as a result, but it was Chelsea who won the race for his signature after triggering a £30m relegation release clause.
The powerful front man soon helped win the Club World Cup, but since then he’s managed just one top flight goal in 12 starts and 15 sub appearances.
It’s been a turbulent season for the West London outfit who, having sacked both Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior, go into the final round of games sitting eighth in the table.
And it’s sparked talk of Delap, who is behind Joao Pedro in the pecking order, departing this summer, perhaps even returning to Portman Road following Ipswich’s promotion back to the big time.
Liam Delap made Ipswich Town a quick profit after an impressive 12 goal debut season for the club. (Image: Ross Halls)
“It’s certainly not worked for him at Chelsea,” said Smith, speaking to bestbettingsites.co.uk.
“It’s not been easy circumstances at all. The club’s in a bit of turmoil, really.
“He doesn’t look like a Chelsea player. He’s got some rough edges there. Whether they could be knocked off, I don’t know.
“He suited Ipswich a bit better. I still think he could join a mid to maybe a European challenging team.
“But I think sometimes he gets too involved in the physical side of things, and he’s a little bit mouthy as well. He got booked again the other day for dissent. Maybe that’s a bit of frustration showing.
“He would regard it as a failure, I’m sure, to go back to Ipswich. But who knows?
“I think Chelsea could get him out and get somebody else in.”