Chelsea near move for Sporting striker Conrad Harder amid Delap injury

Chelsea's striker plans have been thrown into disarray following Liam Delap's hamstring injury, which has forced the club to reconsider its transfer strategy. Initially, Chelsea had agreed to loan Nicolas Jackson to Bayern Munich, but after Delap's injury, they withdrew permission for Jackson's move and recalled both Jackson and Marc Guiu from their loan spells, creating uncertainty and confusion around the squad's depth. In response, Chelsea explored signing Sporting CP's striker Conrad Harder as a potential replacement, but Harder chose to join RB Leipzig instead, opting against moves to Chelsea, AC Milan, and Rennes. Chelsea's indecision and last-minute changes have raised concerns about the club's recruitment strategy and sporting direction, leaving them scrambling for options ahead of the transfer deadline. Despite interest in Harder and efforts to negotiate a permanent deal for Jackson to fund a new signing, Chelsea's striker situation remains unsettled as they aim to address their attacking needs. The club’s chaotic handling of transfers highlights the challenges they face in building a reliable and consistent forward line for the season.