Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara has expressed concern at the possibility of losing Gary Mackay-Steven for nothing.
The Scotland international is about to enter the final year of his Tannadice contract and having the winger stay at the club for the coming season but then walk away is not something McNamara wants to contemplate.
That leaves a couple of possibilities.
Mackay-Steven can sign a fresh deal with the Tangerines or they will look kindly upon any reasonable bid that comes in for him.
“There are always different factors come into it,” said McNamara.
“For instance, last year we had Johnny Russell going into the last year of his deal. In that case, you don’t want a player to just walk away for nothing.
“We have that problem now with GMS. He is going into his last year so that is something we have to think about. We have spoken to him and will keep doing that but realistically I think it would be disappointing if he stayed another year and walked away for nothing, given the time he has been here.
“We will look at it and see what is best to move that forward. This is not about us looking to move him on.
“It depends on who is interested, who wants him. That is a lot to do with it. He is back next week and we will take it from there.”
Whether Mackay-Steven stays or goes, there will be departures in the weeks ahead.
The United boss confirmed: “One or two will be moving on, which will just be similar to what happened last summer.
“What I would like to happen is for us to have most things done before we start back on Monday so that we are starting afresh.
“We will have to wait and see what happens over the next couple of weeks.”
McNamara was asked if one of those could be full-back Andy Robertson, who was the subject of a rejected £1 million bid from West Brom last weekend.
“I hope not,” he replied. “We have turned down a bid for him but I accept that there is always going to be interest in a player who has performed as well as he has done for us and for Scotland.
“So far we have resisted it and shown that we don’t have to panic and sell.
“The chairman has said since January that we don’t need to sell unless the deal is right for everyone.
“Personally, as a manager I want him to stay in order to build the squad and be better as a club.”
Arriving at the club’s St Andrews training complex next week will be Dutch trialist Marley Berkvens as well as another as-yet-unnamed player.
They have both been put forward by the manager’s former Celtic team-mate Pierre van Hooijdonk, the man who brought United popular striker Nadir Ciftci.
McNamara said: “Big Pierre has recommended them and given his history of success with Nadir we should give them a wee look.”