Liam Delap, Estevao Willian & seven reasons why Chelsea fans won't want to miss the Club World Cup

Chelsea are taking four new signings with them to America, but there is undoubtedly one standout among them: Liam Delap. The Blues will hope they have finally ended their goal-scoring struggles by winning the hard-fought battle for the ex-Ipswich Town frontman, who - at £30 million ($40m) - could prove to be an absolute bargain.

The Club World Cup will give fans an unusual preview of what is to come, and Delap will be determined to hit the ground running so as to stake a claim for a starting place ahead of Nicolas Jackson, having been included in the squad instead of heading to the Under-21 European Championship with England.

Speaking in his first in-house interview ahead of the tournament, Delap said: "Growing up watching this club, I understand the stature of it and how incredible it has been over the years. I wanted to come here to win trophies. When I spoke to the club, everyone wanted to get back to the very top, and they have the quality and the players to do that. The hunger and desire to keep adding trophies, to take the club back to where it belongs, that is the main objective."

Chelsea have reinforced in midfield, too, with Dario Essugo completing a pre-agreed £18.5m ($25m) transfer from Sporting CP in time for the tournament, while Brazilian Andrey Santos is the only 2024-25 loanee included in the squad with a view to integrating him into the first team next season after a stellar campaign at Blueco-owned Strasbourg.

Blues fans will probably hope to see Moises Caicedo get plenty of rest after excelling in a gruelling season that was followed swiftly by international duty, and they will hope highly-rated Portuguese Essugo - who has compared himself to the Ecuadorian - can fill the role of midfield destroyer in the States.

Santos, meanwhile, could step into Enzo Fernandez's boots, with the Argentine probably needing a break too having been similarly ever-present alongside Caicedo and involved in Argentina's World Cup qualifiers in South America this past week. Santos has generated plenty of excitement by hitting double figures for goals in France this season, and this will be the perfect opportunity to impress.

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One player Chelsea won't have in their ranks is Estevao Willian, despite the wonderkid turning 18 in April ahead of his hotly-anticipated £56m ($71m) switch to Stamford Bridge. But while he won't be in a blue shirt, supporters will still be able to get a glimpse of the wonderkid in action at the tournament.

The decision has been taken for the prodigious attacker to instead go to the Club World Cup with his current employers, Palmeiras, who have qualified courtesy of their Copa Libertadores triumph in 2021. An electric dribbler with a penchant for the sublime, he is primed to light it up.

Speaking to DAZN recently, the teenager said: "It feels great to be playing in a tournament like this, and to know that Palmeiras is among the best clubs in the world. Expectations are high, and the tournament will also be a great learning experience. There's no doubt that the goal is to win, and that goes for the whole team, not just me."

While Chelsea won't face Estevao and Palmeiras, they will be taking on Brazilian opposition in the form of Flamengo in a group that also contains LAFC and ES Tunis. The Mengao currently top the Brasileirao and have a host of quality, experienced heads at their disposal.

Uruguayan attacker Giorgian de Arrascaeta will be the dangerman for the Blues' defence, having racked up 13 goal involvements in just nine games in Brazil's Serie A so far. Midfielder Gerson, meanwhile, has re-established himself back in his homeland after a failed spell in Europe, and right-back Wesley is highly regarded having been linked with Manchester United.

Blues head coach Maresca is relishing the challenge. "It will certainly be a learning curve, because we’ll learn many things," he told FIFA. "These countries and different cultures coming together will likely bring unique moments compared to those we would typically experience here in Europe.

"As far as culture is concerned, Brazilian fans are great to watch, as well, because they are cheerful, entertaining. So, with their culture and our culture coming together, hopefully we’ll be able to ensure that the people who come to watch the games at the stadium have a great time."

Captain Reece James added: "I think that (playing against different styles) could work in our favour, but it could be difficult as well. We’re used to playing against teams in and around Europe, so the style is going to be different (as well as) how they prepare, how they set up; it will be tough."

One star who will be determined to turn it on and put on a show is Cole Palmer, who will be heading stateside for the first time as a Chelsea player. The attacker joined the club after pre-season in 2023, and missed the U.S. tour last year as he recovered from Euro 2024.

Wearing the number 10 on his back for the first time, the Blues talisman will be keen to make an impression with the world's eyes on him, and he has shown time and again that he is a man for the big occasion.

"I’ve said it more than once: Cole Palmer is up there with the very best, the top players who can produce something at any moment, create something out of nothing," Maresca said ahead of the tournament. "He wasn't with me on the USA tour last summer, so it will also be a chance for him to experience the environment there and to introduce himself to America."

Of course, where there is silverware on offer, Chelsea and their following will take a keen interest. The club has become accustomed to lifting trophies in the modern era even when the going is tough, and 2024-25 was no different.

The west Londoners have the chance to complete a very unusual double by adding the Club World Cup to their Conference League triumph, and they should have the appetite following that victory over Real Betis last month.

"When you are at Chelsea, your goal is always to win. Our goal - each and every single game - will always be to try to win them all," Maresca told FIFA. "You need to see it [replicating coaches of years gone by] as a source of fantastic motivation. When we’re there, that will be one of our goals: to try to win it."

Skipper James added: "The goal for any competition is to win. We have an amazing squad, amazing team, amazing manager, and our goal is to win. I think any trophy of this significance is a huge honour for the club and, obviously, the first time will go down in history."

One major boon for Chelsea is that, as rank outsiders, the pressure will be off when their campaign gets underway in Atlanta next week, as they kick off against LAFC on Monday.

With European champions Paris Saint-Germain as well as big hitters Inter, Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Real Madrid all involved in the revamped, expanded summer tournament, no-one will be expecting Maresca's men to get particularly far.

That should play into Chelsea's hands, as they will have the freedom to express themselves without pressure or expectation. They have a chance of going deep into the event as very dark horses; should they top Group C as anticipated, the west Londoners will likely face Benfica or Boca Juniors in the last 16, and if they can overcome that challenge they will probably come up against Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals.

Chelsea are a club used to winning against the odds, and they have a chance of springing a surprise this summer.