Chelsea’s summer striker search shows no sign of slowing down, with reports claiming the club remains determined to sign Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike — even as a deal for Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap nears completion.

According to Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, the Blues’ interest in Ekitike is unaffected by their progress in signing Delap, who is expected to reunite with Enzo Maresca following Chelsea’s activation of his £30 million release clause. The 22-year-old Delap, who attracted strong interest from Manchester United, Newcastle, and others, is set to sign a long-term deal and compete for a place alongside Nicolas Jackson in Chelsea’s attack.

Despite the addition of Delap, Chelsea remain firmly in the race for Ekitike — a player they have tracked for months. The 21-year-old Frenchman, currently valued at €100 million (£84m) by Frankfurt, has enjoyed a breakout campaign in the Bundesliga, scoring 22 goals and providing 12 assists across 48 appearances.

Ekitike, once seen as a future star at PSG, struggled to secure regular minutes in Paris but has rediscovered his form and confidence in Germany, attracting attention from several top European clubs. Among those is Liverpool, though their current focus on Bayer Leverkusen duo Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz gives Chelsea a potential edge in the race.

The continued pursuit of Ekitike signals Chelsea’s intent to build formidable attacking depth as they prepare for a return to the Champions League and a demanding Club World Cup campaign in the United States this summer. With a potent mix of youth, speed, and versatility, adding both Delap and Ekitike would send a clear message about the club’s ambitions under Maresca.