Alan Shearer urges Liam Delap to join Newcastle after Chelsea struggles

Alan Shearer believes Liam Delap needs to leave Chelsea and find regular Premier League football, with Newcastle United emerging as a potential destination for the 23-year-old striker.

Newcastle have retained an interest in Delap after missing out on him last summer, while reports suggest the Chelsea forward would be open to a move to St James’ Park.

After a difficult first season at Stamford Bridge, Shearer believes Delap cannot afford to spend another campaign on the fringes.

Chelsea paid Ipswich Town £30million for Delap last summer, but the move has failed to produce the development many expected.

The striker scored just once in 28 Premier League appearances, and Shearer believes choosing Chelsea was a mistake.

“I thought it was a poor move for him going to Chelsea anyway, because he was never ever going to be the number one choice there,” Shearer told Betfair.

The Newcastle legend believes Delap would have benefited far more from joining a Premier League club where he could start regularly.

“He’s lost a year of valuable learning time,” Shearer added. “But there’s no doubt there’s talent in there.”

Newcastle could now offer Delap the fresh start Shearer believes he needs.

Football Insider's Pete O’Rourke reports that Delap is “open” to Newcastle and that joining the Magpies would appeal to him.

There are also claims that Delap is hoping Newcastle make a formal offer before the transfer deadline.

For Shearer, the priority should be straightforward: Delap needs minutes.

“Wherever he goes, first of all he has to play and play regularly,” he said.

Shearer specifically mentioned Newcastle and Aston Villa as potential destinations capable of offering Delap a platform to rebuild his career while competing for European football.

The biggest obstacle for Newcastle could be Chelsea's valuation.

Despite paying £30m only last summer and Delap struggling during his first season, Chelsea are reportedly demanding as much as £50m to sell him.

That would represent a significant investment for Newcastle and a £20m increase on Chelsea's original purchase price.

The player's apparent willingness to consider Newcastle could help negotiations, but the Magpies must decide whether Delap's potential justifies such a substantial fee.

Newcastle must now decide whether to turn their long-standing interest into a formal bid before the transfer window closes.

Delap appears receptive to the move and Shearer believes St James’ Park could provide the regular football he badly needs. The major question is whether Newcastle are prepared to get anywhere close to Chelsea's reported £50m valuation.

If that price comes down during the final days of the window, this could quickly become one to watch.

Would you pay £50m for Liam Delap, or should Newcastle target another striker?