Nigel Clough knows what a unique asset Lloyd Dyer is to his Burton Albion team - and how difficult he would be to replace.
Dyer has been offered a new deal this summer as one of six Brewers players out of contract next month.
The 35-year-old winger scored 14 goals in 80 Championship appearances during Albion's two seasons in the second tier after joining in July 2016, and he was a virtual ever-present on the left flank when fit.
His pace and eye for goal made him a key performer as a winger, forward or at left-wing-back.
And Clough is keen to keep hold of the former Leicester City man as Burton return to League One.
"He's 35, nearly 36, but I don't think that's much of an issue with Lloyd," said the Brewers boss.
"He is our top goalscorer.
"We also look at it that, yes we want to keep them for reasons, but also, if he doesn't stay, where do you go and replace him?
"That's the case as well - there aren't many players like Lloyd Dyer, even in the Championship.
"Who's similar to Lloyd in the Championship?
"Then when you add in what comes into our budget, lower Championship or League One, he's very difficult to replace.
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"His pace is an asset, and even now he hasn't lost too much of that, so that's difficult to replace.
"He's got experience and everything."
Like Tom Naylor, Damien McCrory, Jake Buxton, Hope Akpan and Harry Campbell, Dyer has a decision to make about whether to commit his future to the Brewers again by signing another new deal.
His impact has been telling since he joined on a free transfer with Albion preparing for their Championship bow, when Clough says he might have gone elsewhere.
"I think it has been a good match, at his age," added Clough.
"I know that he had better offers two years ago to go elsewhere.
"But there comes a point where, to live 20 minutes down the road with his young family, there's a price to pay for that.
"If you want more money and you want to travel or uproot your family, then take that.
"But as you're coming towards the end of your career, I think you've got to think seriously about those things."
