Ayr United will launch a fight to keep hold of James Maxwell - by offering the Rangers kid a permanent deal to stay at Somerset Park.
The highly rated Ibrox left back is currently on loan with the Honest Men until the summer.
But a host of Championship clubs and sides south of the border are preparing to make a move to prise him away during the January window.
Partick Thistle are among those to have tabled a proposal to take Maxwell to Firhill next month in a bid to bolster their promotion push.
But new Ayr managing director, Graeme Mathie, is determined to counter rival interest and keep hold of one of his star assets.
He told the Ayrshire Post: "We know the quality James has and we’re keen to see him fulfill that with us.
"He's a talented player and his versatility will make him of obvious interest to others.
"But we feel he has a real chance to establish himself as a key player here moving forward and be a big part of what we're looking to do at the club."
Maxwell, who grew up in Ayr and spent four years in the club's youth academy before returning from Rangers, is seen by United as someone they can further develop and build their future around.
He earned rave reviews during a loan stint at Queen of the South last season, scoring five times in 32 appearances.
But the 20-year-old has played more of a utility role during Ayr's unsettled first half of the season under David Hopkin and then Jim Duffy.
However, he impressed as Ayr returned to winning ways under interim boss Davie White on Boxing Day with 2-0 win over Raith Rovers.
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