Chelsea are not set to accelerate Emmanuel Emegha’s arrival from Strasbourg this January in light of Liam Delap’s new injury, Daily Mail Sport has been told.
Delap suffered a nasty shoulder injury during Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Bournemouth which left his right arm being supported in a sling and Enzo Maresca without one of his No 9 options. No recovery timeline has yet been placed on the 22-year-old Englishman’s problem by his club, though Maresca described it as ‘quite bad’ at his post-match press conference at the Vitality Stadium.
Emegha, also 22 and a Netherlands international, is due to join from Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg in France next summer on a pre-agreed deal.
We are told that remains the plan rather than Chelsea attempting to bring the young scorer in earlier than expected once the January transfer window opens.
Delap was missing for two months earlier in the season due to a hamstring issue.
Chelsea responded to his sudden spell on the sidelines by bringing back Marc Guiu from his Sunderland loan as cover and it is understood that will apply now that Delap is injured again.
Chelsea are not set to accelerate Emmanuel Emegha’s arrival from Strasbourg this January
The Blues are lighter in the striking department after Liam Delap’s shoulder injury on Saturday
Guiu, 19, replaced Delap when he was substituted after 32 minutes against Bournemouth as Maresca felt it was a game which called for a more physical striker, rather than using Joao Pedro to lead his line.
For the first time since the season’s opening day in a 0-0 with Crystal Palace, Chelsea failed to score, having netted in their last 20 consecutive games in all competitions.
They managed to secure the clean sheet at the other end with Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah currently considered Maresca’s favoured centre-back pairing, and with Robert Sanchez making several saves.
Chelsea will face Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday – in a match in which Moises Caicedo will be able to play – before taking on Everton at Stamford Bridge this weekend – when Caicedo will serve the final game of his three-match suspension.
Maresca’s striker options for the time being will be Guiu, Joao Pedro, and Pedro Neto, who has been used as a false nine previously.