Motherwell boss Graham Alexander has confirmed defender Declan Gallagher is out of contract in the summer and hinted they may be priced out of holding on to the club captain.
There have been a number of reports this season that Gallagher would trigger a contract extension if he played 25 league games for the club, but the Fir Park boss says their skipper will be free to leave in the summer.
However, he stressed the club will do their best to keep the Scotland international in the squad for next season.
Gallagher has reportedly attracted interest from his boyhood club Celtic and turned down advances from clubs in the United States to move to the MLS. Links to Hearts, Cardiff and Dundee United have also been made this season as the clock ticks down towards him becoming a free agent.
Alexander, who managed to tie down Gallagher's club mate and fellow Scotland star Stephen O'Donnell on a new two-ear deal this week, said: "Declan is under contract until the summer, that's what it is is, and after that we take it from there.
"I think there was something at the start of the season that I wasn't privy to and when I came in [as manager] it was about keeping him here until the summer and having another conversation with him - and that hasn't changed.
"He is out of contract in the summer and he is free to play without that changing his future.
"When the time is right, if he wants to have a conversation with us then we are open to doing that, but in January when I last spoke to him about this it was very much up in the air.
"So we just asked him if he would still be here after January, how committed would he'd be and he was fully committed - and that's all I've seen. He's fully committed to doing his best for Motherwell.
"When it gets to the summer we will see how it progresses from there."
Asked how hopeful he was of keeping him at the club, Alexander admitted they could be priced out.
He added: "I'm an optimist but I'm a realist as well because I know he will have suitors.
"He's a good player and in the current international squad and if we were trying to sign him and he had no other suitors then I'd be wondering why we'd be [trying to keep him].
"Him having other clubs interested is fully expected from our position.
"He will fully understand what our expectations are going forward and what we can afford, basically.
"If it is not enough, we part ways. That's how football is.
"That is for every player, really.
"We feel he was unfortunate to get injured four or five games into our time here and he's had to work very hard to get back in the team.
"But Dec has proved over the last 18-20 months for Motherwell and every club would benefit from having him in the squad."
Gallagher returned to the squad from a muscle injury in the 5-0 win over Formartine in the Scottish Cup on April 3 and also started last week's 1-0 win over St Mirren in the league.
He is expected to captain the side again tomorrow night when the Steelmen host Morton in the last 16 of the Scottish Cup.
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