'It was a bad move' - Carragher blasts Delap for joining Chelsea

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has criticised Liam Delap’s move to Chelsea, suggesting the striker would have benefited more from joining a mid-table Premier League side.

Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for a reported £30 million during the summer transfer window.

However, the former England U21 international has struggled for regular minutes, making just four starts since the beginning of the year.

Speaking on the Stick to Football, Carragher delivered a blunt verdict on the transfer.

“It was a bad move. Honestly, it was a bad move going to Chelsea,” Carragher said.

He argued that the step up from Ipswich to a club competing at the top end of the table may have come too soon in Delap’s development.

He added, “When young players are improving, and on that journey, the jump from Ipswich to Chelsea was too big. He needed somewhere in the middle.”

Carragher suggested that a club with less pressure and guaranteed playing time would have been a smarter choice.

“Somewhere like Everton. If you play centre forward for Everton and play every game, even if you have a few bad games, you know you’re still going to play," he concluded.