Lee Bowyer admits it will be tough to keep Lyle Taylor at Charlton Athletic past this season.
The striker has impressed in the Championship this season after making the step up from League One with the Addicks.
He has netted 11 goals in 22 appearances this season in a campaign that has been hampered by injury.
Yet the 30-year-old is out of contract at the Valley at the end of the season, which in January led to interest from Bristol City, Nottingham Forest, Brentford and Rangers.
The Robins instead opted to sign Nahki Wells but, with question marks over the future of Famara Diedhiou, who has 12 months left on his contract, they may well be looking for a striker again when the transfer window opens.
Charlton have a well-publicised ownership battle at the moment and Bowyer admits they would be unable to sign a replacement of a similar quality to Taylor.
“To try to keep him at the club is going to be tough,” he told Sky Sports.
“He’s so big for us and I was thankful to the owners that they didn’t sell him in January, because they could have.
“They could have sold him in January, but they didn’t.
“Are we going to be able to replace him next season if he goes? I don’t think we will. Not with the budget we have.
“Lyle, for me, is up there as definitely one of the top five strikers in this division, for sure.
“We won’t be able to replace him, with what we pay. No chance.”
