Nottingham Forest are battling to keep academy graduate Brennan Johnson amid transfer interest from Premier League side Brentford.
The Bees have reportedly put forward a second bid, this time of £15million for the youngster, and if Forest was to seal the transfer, it would become a club record fee.
The Athletic however, have reported that the Reds would not be prepared to discuss letting Johnson go, "unless there was a bid of £18m."
Forest managed to keep the young star at the City Ground after previous interest in the summer window.
In this week's Garibaldi Red podcast, Reds legend Garry Birtles says it's not the "right time" for him to leave the club.
He said: "It is a lot of money (£15m), it's very tempting. Balance in the books is always something you have to look at outside of the Premier League but I just don't think it's the right time for him to go at the moment.
"We're in a position where we can challenge very, very well indeed. We've been seeing in recent weeks with the signings, how well they've done since they've come in and you don't want any disruption at this moment in time.
"I just hope his dad (former Forest striker David Johnson) is telling him exactly the same, they'll still want him, believe me, they'll still want him but there might be a few more suitors that come in if Forest don't get into the Premier League or the play-offs, that's an absolutely certainty so then yes, get the money for him which is always sad.
"I remember under Paul Hart when Michael Dawson went, Jermaine Jenas went because Forest didn't get promotion, that's what happened with your little diamonds if you don't get success.
"Just let him stay here until the end of the season, see what happens, nobody can lose by it, he's not going to get a worse player at the back end of the season, he'd only improve under Steve Cooper without a doubt because you've seen everybody improve under Steve Cooper.
"I just hope common sense is more to the table and then we can see him for the rest of the season."
Johnson has been in excellent form this campaign, featuring in all league games, netting five goals and contributing to four assists.
Birtles believes it would not make sense to take him out of an environment where he's "thriving" and "loving every minute".
"Why just take him out of a situation where he's been thriving, he's been loving every minute of being out on that football pitch, he's getting kicked from pillar to post but that's testament to the opposition thinking what a big danger he is," Birtles added.
The 65-year-old then went on to highlight that Johnson's recent form is down to one key man.
"He's playing under a manager (Steve Cooper) who has bought the whole club to life and you have to take that into consideration as well, not just your own situation, just galvanised everything connected with the club.
"I'm not just saying this, it's blatantly obvious, we had one point, now we're five points off the play-offs. You meet him (Cooper) and the positivity of the backroom staff is just overwhelmingly good.
"We use this word embrace, we've said it many, many times, he does that, he wants to know about the whole football club, he wants to know about the whole history, he loves the noise of the club, he loves the City Ground.
"He loves the whole concept of Nottingham Forest, he wants to be the person that makes them successful again and I think the players feed off that massively."
