Kevin Keegan has warned it would be "suicidal" to let Nicolas Anelka leave Manchester City without realising his full market value.
He admits in his programme notes for next Tuesday's home game against West Brom that City still owe £5million to Paris St Germain for the French frontman.
To be able to recruit a striker anywhere near Anelka's class, and cover that debt to PSG, City would need to look for a fee around the £10million mark for their star man.
But there look to be few buying clubs around, with Barcelona having ruled out a bid this week due to lack of funds and Liverpool apparently focusing on Real Madrid's Fernando Morientes.