Delap done – which other strikers will be wanted this summer?

After moving to Chelsea from Ipswich for £30 million, Liam Delap’s contract is no longer an issue.

Chelsea, the first Premier League team to sign a prominent striker this summer, defeated rivals Manchester United, Newcastle, and Everton to sign Delap’s signature.

The race to add those vital extra goals continues, though, with Arsenal and Liverpool among the clubs that missed out on Delap and those who wanted to add more firepower.

The transfer window for the summer ends on June 10 and resumes on June 16 with players having until September to build up their squads.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 48 Goals: 22 Assists: 12 Minutes per goal: 165.4

Hugo Ekitike, 22, scored 22 goals and added 12 assists for Eintracht Frankfurt to help them finish third in the Bundesliga and earn a place in the Champions League. This is his best season so far in his career.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 45 Goals: 34 Assists: 6 Minutes per goal: 111.9

Only Harry Kane, England’s captain, managed 21 Bundesliga goals in 2024-25 against Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy.

The 29-year-old Guinea international has been on the radar of the best Premier League clubs because of his 13 Champions League goals (he also tops with Raphinha and Barcelona’s Raphinha).

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 52 Goals: 54 Assists: 12 Minutes per goal: 77.8

Viktor Gyokeres, a former Coventry City striker, has scored an incredible 54 goals in 52 games for Portuguese side Sporting this year.

Although the 26-year-old has been linked with a move to Manchester United that would bring him back to his former team, Ruben Amorim, his goalscoring record is drawing clubs from all over Europe.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 46 Goals: 17 Assists: 4 Minutes per goal: 194.1

Jean-Philippe Mateta, who had eight goals in his first nine games for Crystal Palace, had a good year and was successful in his debut year.

He led Palace to a 1-0 FA Cup final victory over Manchester City at Wembley as the Eagles won their first major trophy by scoring 14 Premier League goals, which ranks him 10th overall.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 42 Goals: 20 Assists: 9 Minutes per goal: 178

Mbeumo has not previously played that role for the Bees, despite having a central striker status.

Any potential suitor who prefers playing central or playing on the right would have the option of playing either position twice.

The 25-year-old Cameroon international has been linked with interest from Manchester United, as well as Newcastle and Arsenal.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 41 Goals: 37 Assists: 7 Minutes per goal: 85.8

Victor Osimhen, a striker from Nigeria, helped Napoli win their first Italian title since 1990 in 2022-23, but he missed their comeback this year because he spent a lot of time on loan at Galatasaray in Turkey.

The 26-year-old has been scoring twice in his team’s 3-2 Europa League victory over Tottenham in November, which was among his best efforts so far in 2024-25.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 49 Goals: 28. Assists: 9 Minutes per goal: 112.6

Mateo Retegui, an international striker from Italy, scored 25 goals for Atalanta in 2024-25, six more than any other player, ending the campaign as the top scorer in Serie A.

The 26-year-old’s goals have helped his team advance to the competition next season after playing in the Champions League this year.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 45 Goals: 21 Assists: 6 Minutes per goal: 155.2

As Slovenian international Benjamin Sesko continues to improve his status at RB Leipzig, he has long been linked with a move to the Premier League.

Due to his new “long-term deal” with the German side last summer, the 22-year-old is 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 meters) tall and won’t cost a lot.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 41 Goals: 15 Assists: 5 Minutes per goal: 171.1

Dusan Vlahovic, a Serbia international whose contract runs until June 2026, has long been a subject of interest.

The 25-year-old is 6’3″ (1.91m) and spent another excellent season with Juventus in Italy after missing out on a move to Arsenal.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 54 Goals: 17 Assists: 14 Minutes per goal: 210.5

In the final few days of the winter transfer window, Arsenal made a late offer to sign England international Ollie Watkins, with Aston Villa refusing to make the rumored £40m offer.

Unai Emery’s side’s goal difference was lower than Newcastle’s, so Villa’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester United on the final day of the Premier League season meant they were unable to earn a lucrative Champions League spot.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 39 Goals: 20 Assists: 4 Minutes per goal: 153.9

Only five Premier League players combined in the year 2024-2019 to score 19 goals, including Brentford’s Yoane Wissa.