Striker Lawrence Shankland has repeatedly been linked with a move to Nottingham Forest - but Dundee United believe the financial impact of the coronavirus crisis on football could help them hang on to him.
The Reds were reportedly interested in the 24-year-old last summer and speculation resurfaced in the January transfer window.
Shankland has hit 28 goals in 33 appearances this term to help his team to the Championship title, and is expected to attract plenty of interest in the summer.
Forest’s Championship rivals Stoke City are said to be keen, but Tangerines boss Robbie Neilson hasn’t given up hope of keeping hold of the front man.
“I would like to sign Lawrence up on a longer contract but you have to be a realist as well,” he told The Courier.
“Will the financial situation in football help us keep him? Possibly but nobody really knows at the moment.
“The game is going to take a hit everywhere but until it settles down we won’t know where people are financially.
“People will always want to buy goalscorers so there will be interest in him but it all depends on what level.
“It will depend on what happens down south because that’s where he will likely go.
“There will be interest in him but it all depends whether it’s from the right clubs or not.”
Neilson also hopes the fact his team will be playing in Scotland’s top-flight next term will convince Shankland to stay.
“We are not in a position where we need to sell him and believe when we have spoken to him the best thing for him is a season in the top-flight,” he said.
“He’s got into the Scotland squad as well, which has raised his profile and the club’s profile too.
“I believe he will score in the top flight and that will increase his value even more.”
