In-demand Siriki Dembele is highly unlikely to be sold in January and will be allowed to run out his Peterborough contract claims chairman Darragh McAnthony.
Rangers and Celtic have been heavily linked with a bid for the attacker who has impressed in the Championship this term, netting four times for the relegation threatened side.
Club chief Barry Fry claimed that Steven Gerrard has sent scouts to watch the forward last term, and he noted Celtic have held a long term interest.
Several sides from the English Championship have also been touted for making a January swoop for the 25-year-old including Bournemouth and Fulham.
Dembele looks unlikely to sign a new deal, but Post chief McAnthony has claimed it would be very unlikely they would allow their star man to leave London Road before the end of the season.
That opens the door for a potential move to the Scottish Premiership next summer if a pre-contract agreement can be struck.
McAnthony said on The Hard Truth podcas t: “Siriki is a top-end Championship talent.
“He’s not in the shop window. We are not actively looking to sell him in January so any clubs who think it’s ‘bargain city’ as he only has six months left on his contract can think again. It wouldn’t be worth it to a club of our size with our owners.
“Josh King had six months left on his contract last January and he went for £10 million (Bournemouth to Everton).
"Now, if a club offered us a premium price of say £7 million with add ons we would have a decision to make, but if he did go we have plans B and C in place to cope.
“Opposition teams will all treat Siriki as one of our biggest dangers, but it’s not all about him. Our season doesn’t depend on his presence.”
