Ross County manager Stuart Kettlewell will be understanding if striker Ross Stewart turns down a new Staggies deal to pursue a fresh challenge.
Stewart is in the final year of his Victoria Park contract, with County still to reach a breakthrough in discussions over a new deal.
County turned down several bids for the 24-year-old during the summer, with English Championship sides Rotherham United and Sheffield Wednesday, along with League One Shrewsbury Town, having shown interest.
Premiership rivals Aberdeen and Hibernian have also previously been linked with the forward, who has netted four goals in 14 appearances so far this term.
Stewart was brought to Dingwall from St Mirren when County were in the Championship in 2018, with Kettlewell revealing the terms on offer are a significant upgrade on his current deal.
Kettlewell is confident it will not be financially driven if Stewarts opts to leave, and he said: “We want to sign Ross on a longer term contract.
“We understand the interest, and we understand where he wants to go in the next phase of his career.
“I’ve said all along that I have a really good relationship with his agent, and I’ve badgered him once or twice trying to get Ross to sign a new contract.
“It will surprise people, Ross isn’t on a massive contract at all at Ross County.
“Money is not the object for Ross, but it also shows that there’s plenty of ground there for us to improve it.
“It’s not the money though, it’s about the opportunity and where Ross wants to play in his career.
“The contract he’s on shows that there is no motivation of money from him, it’s all about the pathway for the next stage of his career.”
Stewart ended his first top-flight campaign as County’s joint leading scorer on 11 goals last year, despite missing two months with a hamstring injury.
Should Stewart decide his future lies elsewhere, Kettlewell insists he would be intent on getting as much return as possible from the Irvine-born forward during the remainder of his stay in the Highlands.
Kettlewell added: “I don’t want to wish his contract away. If we’ve offered him a new contract I don’t want to create any bad feeling about it, if that’s what Ross wants to do I’m not going to upset the apple cart for the time he’s going to be here.
“I want to get everything out of Ross that I possibly can, and history tells us that’s a very good product over the last couple of years.
“I’ve said before that I will be the first guy to shake his hand and send him on his way if he starts hitting the net and becomes a pivotal player for us like he has been.
“I’m sure he will kick on again this season and do that, and then nobody would be happier than myself.
“We have to accept that situation, but what we know is that he gives us everything he’s got in training every day and in matches.”
Stewart missed three excellent chances at key stages in County’s 4-0 loss to Motherwell on Saturday, however Kettlewell has backed his talisman to get back to form.
The County boss added: “Even though he missed chances against Motherwell last weekend, there’s nobody more annoyed about that than him.
“There’s no point in me going over and criticising him for missing those chances, because he’s more upset than anyone else.”
