The Republic of Ireland national team are stepping up their efforts to convince Chelsea striker Liam Delap to switch his international allegiance from England. Reports from The Sun and talkSPORT say that assistant manager John O’Shea has been staying in close touch with the player’s father, Rory Delap, to help make this high-profile move happen.
Even though the 23-year-old forward has played for England at every youth level from the Under-15s to the Under-21s, he is still eligible for the Irish senior side through his paternal grandparents. During the recent March international break, new England manager Thomas Tuchel left Delap out of his squad.
This comes at a time when Ireland are searching for clinical finishers after their heartbreaking World Cup exit. The Green Army narrowly missed out on the 2026 tournament last Thursday after a dramatic 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic ended in a penalty shootout loss, where PSV goalkeeper Matej Kovár saved two crucial spot-kicks.
So, Irish manager Heimir Hallgrímsson has spoken openly about the situation, saying that while the choice is entirely up to the player, an England call-up looks like a long shot right now. O’Shea, who played alongside Rory Delap, backed this up by suggesting that the football world just has to wait for the striker to decide on his future.
O’Shea said, “As they say, it’s up to Liam. Let’s wait and see.” The Republic of Ireland manager, Heimir Hallgrímsson, also emphasised that the decision lies entirely with Liam Delap himself. “He hasn’t played for England yet, and it doesn’t look like he’ll be taking part in the World Cup; in fact, that seems a long way off, but ultimately the decision is his,” the manager explained. (Via GOAL)
Should Chelsea and Liam Delap favour an immediate Irish allegiance?
Liam Delap’s current situation at Chelsea is really tough. He arrived in London with a lot of hype but has found it hard to get into a steady rhythm. At 23, Delap is a backup option in a massive Chelsea squad, scoring only one Premier League goal this season in 22 games.
This lack of goals in the top flight is why Thomas Tuchel sees him as unnecessary for the senior England team right now, especially with Harry Kane still leading the line and other young players ahead of him. Switching to Ireland would give Delap the chance to be a star player right away, a role his father famously held, which could provide the confidence boost he needs to jumpstart his club career.
From a tactical standpoint, Delap possesses the physical strength and technical skills he gained at the Manchester City academy, but his lack of playing time is stalling his progress. While England’s depth is a massive hurdle, committing to Ireland gives him a guaranteed spot to play against top European nations in the upcoming Nations League.
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If he waits for an England call-up that might never come, he risks being forgotten on the Chelsea bench. However, by leaning into his Irish roots now, he can become the face of Hallgrímsson’s new project. That could force Chelsea to either play him more often or help him move to a club where his international status is actually valued. In the end, the smart move for his career is picking the jersey that gets him on the pitch rather than the one that only offers the prestige of a squad spot he can’t actually get.
