Stuart Kettlewell admits Motherwell have received several offers for Theo Bair - but he will only depart if a bid comes in that they "can't refuse".
Bair, 24, is currently at Copa America with Canada after scoring 15 times for the Steelmen last season.
He been an unused substitute in both his country's Group A matches - against Argentina and Peru - so far, yet his manager knows he is gaining valuable experience competing among the best at a major tournament.
His eye-catching form which continued into the post-split fixtures and helped Motherwell avoid getting sucked into a Scottish Premiership relegation scrap, has caught the eye of clubs from around the continent, and Kettlewell acknowledges that senior chiefs may have to cash in this summer.
Although, he believes it will need to take a significant fee to prize the former Vancouver Whitecaps talisman away from Fir Park.
"There's been plenty interest, I'll be brutally honest, there has been lost of interest," Kettlewell revealed. "There has been concrete interest, I've said that publicly a couple weeks ago, I think it was on the radio when I spoke about that, so there absolutely has been. We are in constant contact with big Theo as is his teammates and many of the staff.
"He obviously finds himself out at the Copa America with Canada at this minute in time which is a brilliant experience for him getting back into the national team but I don't look at it any other way other than the fact that he's a Motherwell player.
"He's got another year on his contract and we've loved working with him. We would love that to continue but again I go back to this model, sometimes that situation is out with your control. If somebody offers big money, and I mean big money, for anybody within your group at a club like Motherwell, it's always got to be something that we consider.
"We don't cry about it either. We are always trying to think about that next way forward. I fielded so many questions about how we replace Kevin van Veen, and I think we done that pretty well being the third top goal scorers in the league last year.
"If that becomes a situation again, there will be nobody happier for the likes of Theo if it was something that he thought took him to the next stage of his career, as I have loved working with the lad. I really like him as a person. He is still very much ours until somebody puts something in front of us we can't refuse.”
Asked if the club will need to put a deadline on whether they will let Bair depart, the Motherwell boss replied: "I don't foresee that being an issue we are going to face. We have been really transparent in all our communication with Theo, with the agent, with other clubs. We have been crystal clear in our communication.
"Personally I think we will get to a situation where there is a conclusion long before that. The whole business plan and point of this is that we bring in players such as Theo Bair to try and develop them in the fashion he has done, to catch the attention of clubs with deep pockets and plenty of cash.
"That is how the world works and the wheel keeps turning for a club like Motherwell. The club have been doing that a long time before I came here and that has been a continuation in the last 18 months. That is where we find ourselves at this minute in time. We are all pretty comfortable with where the situation sits just now."
Could there be someone already in the Fir Park building ready to step up next season? Kettlewell thinks so. He even pointed towards how many young players Motherwell have helped develop over the past few years as a perfect example.
"I would probably point you in the direction of statistics," he stated. "If you want to talk not only in my time at Motherwell but at Ross County, it's something really important to me. Those players under the age of 21.
“If I start to speak about Motherwell, Max Johnston, James Furlong, Brodie Spencer, Mika Biereth, Georgie Gent, Lennon Miller. Luca Ross has been on and scored a goal for us. Mark Ferrie, Ewan Wilson is very much part of our group. Dylan Wells has been on the pitch competitively for us. The list continues. We have six 17-year-olds currently out with us on this trip.
"That gives you an indication on my thought process on player development but I stress it doesn't have to be players under the age of 21. If anybody doesn't think Motherwell has been a good developing ground for the likes of Blair Spittal, Kevin van Veen at 32 and Theo Bair at 24, we can rhyme these guys off. I believe it's always been in the make-up, it's aligned with the vision of this football club and what we feel we have to do.
"I do believe myself and Motherwell put their money where their mouth is when it comes to giving young players opportunities and trying to develop players across the board. A fair amount of interest in our players in the last couple of summer windows and some transfer fees last year. That is a possibility again this year, so I think we are doing ok in it.
"We have a clear vision of what we want to do but how much can I affect that? I can only affect it for my football club, I can't do it across the board for Scottish football. That is not a criticism as everybody has different priorities and a different way of working. But it's safe to say that's a pillar in our vision for this football club."
