Targets start to LISTEN

THEY MIGHT NOT ALL COME OFF - BUT BLUES SETTING THEIR AIMS HIGHER IN TRANSFER MARKET

- Joe Thomas

VERTON look set to lose out on the battle for Liam Delap with the striker advancing on a move to Chelsea.

The 22-year-old was a target for the Blues with David Moyes willing to go on the record with his desire to join the battle for the Ipswich Town forward after his impressive season in the Premier League.

Moyes was always realistic about Everton's chances of landing the coveted star, meaning the setback is just a minor one at the start of a summer in which the club has already entered the transfer market.

And despite appearing set to lose out, there are positives that can be taken from the pursuit.

The most notable is the intent shown by Moyes and the club in the public pronouncements of interest in Delap.

The Blues boss broke cover from the usual playbook of managers not being willing to speak about players from other clubs and the benefits of having done so are clear.

First, there was no jeopardy to doing so - once Delap's relegation release clause became widely known it became obvious he would be the subject of widespread interest.

Kieran McKenna, his manager at Portman Road, was aware there were clubs lining up for him and Everton joining them was hardly controversial.