Brentford boss Marinus Dijkhuizen expects Andre Gray’s future to be resolved in the next few days.
Championship rivals Hull City, who signed Bees right-back Moses Odubajo on Friday, have had a bid for Gray rejected.
Dijkhuizen admitted he had no say in any possible deal but said he thought the saga would be concluded quickly.
He said: “I think if it happens it’s next week.
“For Andre, and for us, I hope we don’t have to wait. They know the price and if they pay it then he’s gone.
“Sometimes money talks and every player has a price. I hope not because otherwise we have to look for another striker.
“I hope he stays here. He is a rising star, a very good striker. But I don’t know, I am the head coach not the sporting director.”
Dijkhuizen revealed Gray had been left out of the starting line-up to face Ipswich because the striker had said he did not feel mentally ready.
But he earned praise from the boss after coming off the bench to score one of two injury-time goals that helped rescue a point.
Dijkhuizen said: “I talked a lot this week with Andre. I preferred him to play but if he is not ready he must be honest.
“Then we had to bring him on and he was ready for it so respect for him and he got a good goal.
“You think it’s too late but there’s still three or four minutes and finally the second goal goes in.
“It was a little bit lucky of course but I think we deserved a draw.”
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This post was last modified on 10/08/2015