Former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has delivered a stark warning to Liam Delap: leave Stamford Bridge or risk watching his career stall before it has truly begun.

Delap endured a difficult debut campaign in west London, managing only one Premier League goal across 28 appearances — a return that Hasselbaink believes cannot be repeated. The 23-year-old spent too many afternoons on the bench, starved of the consistent minutes a young striker needs to develop.

A loan move or permanent exit is needed

Speaking on WhoScored's The State of Play podcast, Hasselbaink was unambiguous about the path forward.