Delap has had a standout season for Ipswich, scoring 12 Premier League goals for the club after joining last summer. The 22-year-old reportedly has a release clause in the event that Ipswich are relegated back to the Championship, a scenario that is almost certain to happen given how far away from safety they are with just six games remaining in the campaign.

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A young goal scorer will always draw attention from bigger clubs, especially one that could be had for relatively cheap. However, former Premier League player and manager Poyet has not seen enough to be convinced that Delap could have an immediate impact at a top club.

“Liam Delap is a player who has promising characteristics, but is he ready for a top side? I’m not so sure, I think it would come a little early for him,” Poyet told Discasino. “He has done very well for Ipswich this season, I like him, and he has impressed me this season, he will get better and better.

“In my mind, he is the stage to be back up to a real top striker at a big club and learn from them, to then take over when that player moves on."

Poyet explained that the difference between being the go-to player on a smaller club and a key contributor at a top side is massive, and it would be something that Delap will need to overcome in any future move.

“We must remember that playing for Ipswich and being the main man and playing for a top side is not the same thing whatsoever," he said. "You need to win for the bigger club, and the teams you play sit a lot deeper, everything you do must be perfect.

“Some players can make that step up and can take advantage of these situations, maybe he is one of those – we will see. He needs to be able to adapt to these ways of playing and he can be a brilliant forward for these clubs, as he’s such a promising talent.”

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