Queens Park Rangers boss Mark Warburton wants the club to bring in some players before they consider selling reported Leeds United target Eberechi Eze.
The 22-year-old scored 14 times and set up eight goals in 46 Championship appearances for the Hoops last season and has attracted interest from a few Premier League clubs.
Eze actually set up QPR’s only goal, and the game’s only goal, as Rangers beat the Whites 1-0 at Loftus Road in January.
As well as Leeds, Crystal Palace and West Ham United have also registered an interest in Eze.
Radio station talkSPORT claimed earlier in August QPR turned down a deal worth £8m plus £4m add-ons from Palace for Eze.
In late July, another report claimed Leeds were in the race for Eze’s signature, but would face stern competition.
However, Warburton wants his club to sign some more players before they can even think about selling their star man.
“If we sell a player first, people assume you are cashing in. You sell a player for £15m to £18m, ‘Oh, they must be cashing in’,” the QPR manager said on talkSPORT's breakfast show.
“We know the financial landscape is such owners are writing cheques every month, so the money gets absorbed into the costs.
“You’ve got to try and do your business as early as you can or you run the risk of levels not being reached and players staying with you.
"It’s a game of poker and a dangerous one. You hope very much you can come out on the winning side. It’s not an easy challenge, that’s for sure.”
