Town defender Axel Tuanzebe says Liam Delap has shown he is good enough to play in the Premier League and added that it is natural the striker is getting plaudits for his displays this season.
Delap has a £30 million release clause in his contract should, as is likely, the Blues are relegated to the Championship at the end of this season.
Chelsea and Manchester United are leading the chase for the striker, with Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Liverpool and Juventus also believed to be monitoring the 22-year-old.
Tuanzebe, who himself is out of contract at the end of the season, heaped praise on the Town frontman and understands why a plethora of top clubs are showing an interest.
"Credit to Liam, he’s been great around the group for his first season,” he said. "Playing at the top level he’s been nothing but excellent for us, it’s natural that he’s going to get his praises and accolades.
"We’re there to support him and keep him on path, there’s still a job to do. Even though he’s getting the right sort of noise and exposure, he still knows his commitments to the team and he’s professional enough to execute that.
"Liam has been good, he’s improved massively in terms of game understanding for the team. He has his traits – in front of goal he’s deadly, he’s a strong lad and he’s robust.
"He’s been fantastic for us, he steps up to the challenge. I don’t think there’s been a game this season where he’s not been willing to give his best foot forward and ultimately that’s what it’s about.
"You could say we’re an inexperienced team in the Premier League, what we need is everybody being professional and wanting to execute their job to the best of their ability. Liam has shown that time and time again.”
Delap had never started in the top flight before his move to Suffolk, but Tuanzebe believes his background as a youth player at Manchester City gave him no hesitation that the Blues’ 12-goal top scorer could succeed at Premier League level.
"I’ve always said that if you give someone enough chances to play in the Premier League, eventually they’ll adapt and it’s just about how quickly they can adapt,” the defender said.
"Liam being a strong lad coming from Manchester City’s academy, there’s no doubt he’s good enough. He’s been around the best and he’s shown time and time again that he’s good enough to play in this league. He’s been a credit to himself.”
Tuanzebe has also spoken about his own role in the Blues side, where he has featured in a hybrid role that resembles a mix of a centre-back and a right-back.
Having started around half of Town’s league matches this season, the 27-year-old has been one of the first names on the team sheet when available for selection in a position that suits his game to a tee.
He said: "It requires a lot of running. If you look at Leif [Davis]’s position, he starts a lot higher up so it’s easier for him to join the play up the pitch. For me, I’m running from a much deeper position and obviously tracking back as well.
"I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it, I have my responsibilities and my importance within the team. Ultimately as a player that’s what you thrive off, the manager being able to trust you to execute the role week in week out.
"I don’t think anybody enjoys the running side but it’s necessary and it’s what the game requires now. If you want to play for a top side, you have to run and be willing to make sacrificial runs, running forward and back, whatever is needed you have to do for the team.
"That’s definitely an ethos we have here at this club, everybody is willing to work for each other and we understand each other’s role so well that I can tell you where certain individuals should be so if they're not in that position I’m straight on them.”
One of those individuals who has featured alongside Tuanzebe this season is Dara O’Shea, the Irishman being virtually an ever-present since his debut and being widely touted as a future successor to Sam Morsy as captain.
"We’ve grown a lot and got used to certain dynamics and traits that we’ve picked up from each other and that level of trust has increased massively,” Tuanzebe said on their relationship.
"Our communication is constant throughout the game, I know what to expect from Dara and Dara knows what to expect from me.
"That mutual respect is very important because Dara’s another lad where a lot of lads see him as a senior pro and someone that’s played in the Premier League. Us two being responsible and trusted within the backline just ushers the confidence throughout the team.”
When not playing for the Blues, Tuanzebe can also be seen in action internationally for DR Congo, who have high ambitions of success at the next two major tournaments.
The Bunia-born defender says he always represents Les Léopards with immense pride following his debut for the African nation last year.
Tuanzebe said: "I was born there, I speak the language, that’s my culture and mannerism. Representing the country is definitely a proud moment for me and my family.
"Unfortunately I’ve missed a few of the international games due to the hand and hamstring issues. Big games coming up leading the table for the World Cup qualifiers, we definitely want to make the World Cup in 2026.
"African Cup of Nations is another big tournament and we want to do well in it, the last one we finished fourth. We’re there, we’re climbing, the manager’s implemented a good working environment and work ethic, so all I can see is the team going up.”