Nottingham Forest closing in on Liam Delap deal as Chelsea striker gives transfer green light

Nottingham Forest are closing in on a deal to sign Chelsea striker Liam Delap, according to Ben Jacobs, with the 23-year-old keen on making the move to the City Ground.

Forest manager Oliver Glasner wants another striker before the transfer window closes and Delap has emerged as a major target.

His Chelsea situation has changed considerably this summer, with João Pedro now firmly established as the club's first-choice No.9 under Xabi Alonso.

Forest are now making significant progress towards securing Delap.

The striker is understood to be open to the move after falling down the attacking hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.

Delap's position became even clearer when he lost Chelsea's No.9 shirt to João Pedro, taking the No.12 instead.

Alonso has also kept the former Ipswich Town striker away from his core first-team group, with Delap not included in Chelsea's squad for Monday night's Premier League opener away at Fulham.

Those decisions have opened the door for a late departure.

Glasner is keen to strengthen his attacking options and sees Delap as a player who can add another dimension to his Forest squad.

The 23-year-old already knows Premier League football and would arrive with the opportunity to compete for considerably more first-team minutes than currently appear available at Chelsea.

That could prove decisive for the striker.

Chelsea signed Delap for £30million last summer, but João Pedro's form and Alonso's arrival have changed the picture dramatically.

Delap is not the only Chelsea striker whose future has been uncertain during the final stages of the window.

Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu have also been available as Alonso reshapes his attacking department around João Pedro.

For Delap, Forest now appear to be providing a clear escape route.

Forest will now look to finalise an agreement with Chelsea and complete the transfer before the deadline. With Delap receptive to the move and Glasner pushing for another striker, the remaining focus is on the clubs completing the deal.

Would Liam Delap be the striker Nottingham Forest need to take another step forward under Glasner?