Bristol City chairman Colin Sexstone has stressed prized asset Nicky Maynard must be sold in the next seven days if he opts not to sign a new contract.
Maynard, who is the subject of a reported £2million bid from Barclays Premier League outfit Wigan, has turned down the offer of a new deal with the Robins, meaning he could become a free agent when his current contract expires in the summer.
That leaves Sexstone and the powers that be at City keen to cash in on the striker before the January transfer window shuts next Tuesday.
"At the moment, he doesn't want to sign a new contract here. With one week to go before the window shuts, if he hasn't signed a new contract by then, then we have no option. If we are going to do business it has to be done this week," Sexstone told the Bristol Evening Post.
"We are in advanced talks with Wigan and I'm sure we can come to an agreement with them.
"There is obviously the matter of Nicky deciding whether he wants to go to Wigan and whether he can come to terms with them.
"We felt it was only right and proper, as it's getting to the end of the window, that it was made public."