Birmingham City boss Lee Bowyer says his relationship with Lyle Taylor could give him the advantage in a bid to sign the striker from Nottingham Forest this summer.
Taylor is currently thriving on loan at Blues having been reunited with Bowyer who was his manager during his spell at Charlton Athletic.
Forest granted Taylor an exit in the January window sparking speculation over his long-term future at the club especially after the Reds signed Sam Surridge in a £2m deal from Stoke City.
But Bowyer feels Taylor's form at Birmingham could force the Reds into a rethink if he continues to produce the goods at St Andrew's.
"We have to be careful not make them do too well because everyone else will want to take them,” Bowyer told the Birmingham Mail.
"Others will be like ‘OK, this is what you can do then’.
“As well as they are doing for us, we are improving them and making them better players that then opens the door for other people who might say ‘OK I am going to give you more money come to me’.
“Knowing Lyle, I have a good relationship with him and he likes working under me so that could help. Again that’s a thing between two clubs, they might want to keep him now Forest and think ‘he’s a good striker’.”
Taylor has been become a key man under Bowyer, scoring three goals in six games, including one against Derby County.
Taylor said it took him time to get used to playing regularly again but says he is enjoying life with the Blues.
"I'm back playing football, so I'm happy, and I suppose, for me, it's more about reminding people that I do still play football," the Montserrat international told 72+, the BBC's Football League podcast.
"It sounds ridiculous, but when you've been through 18 months where you haven't played much football, it's almost alien getting back into it.
"I'm enjoying being back playing, and I'm enjoying my time at Birmingham so far."
