Nottingham Forest in advanced talks with Chelsea over Liam Delap transfer

Nottingham Forest are in advanced talks with Chelsea over a deal for Liam Delap in the transfer window, according to reporting on 24 August 2026. The move comes as Forest continue to pursue further reinforcements before the deadline.

Forest manager Oliver Glasner wants two more signings before the transfer window closes a week on Tuesday and said the club was pushing to complete deals. Delap, who was on Forest’s radar when he opted to join Chelsea from Ipswich, is out of favour at Stamford Bridge and has been training away from Xabi Alonso’s first team. The 23-year-old was left out of Chelsea’s squad for their game at Fulham on Monday. “The club is working very hard to get these deals done,” Glasner said. “I’m very confident that we will get in two more high-quality players.”

Forest have already added Ousmane Diomande, Xaver Schlager and Steven Benda this summer, with a fee paid only for Diomande. Diomande joined in a £34m deal from Sporting.

Glasner has implemented a three-man defence at Forest and has identified the wing-back positions as areas to strengthen ahead of the new fixtures. He reiterated the club’s recruitment focus while confirming work remains to finalise additional signings.

Forest are scheduled to host Leeds in the Carabao Cup second round on Tuesday, a rematch of their Premier League defeat last Saturday. Morgan Gibbs-White will miss the cup tie because of a knee problem, though Forest hope he will be available for the trip to Liverpool on Saturday.

Elsewhere in the transfer market, Aston Villa have renewed their interest in Club Brugge defender Joel Ordóñez as a potential replacement for Ezri Konsa. Villa also had a bid for Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis rejected.

Coventry City are working on a deal to make Brentford defender Ethan Pinnock their ninth summer signing; Pinnock joined Brentford from Barnsley in 2019 and made just four top-flight appearances last season. Sunderland have completed the signing of midfielder Jules Ahoka from Royal Antwerp for a reported £8m.

Forest now target further additions before the window closes a week on Tuesday while preparing for the Carabao Cup second-round tie against Leeds on Tuesday; Gibbs-White will miss that match but is being assessed for the Premier League trip to Liverpool on Saturday.