Blackpool fear losing Thomas Ince to a continental club for chump change.
The Daily Mail says Blackpool could lose Ince for as little as £155,000 as he considers a move abroad.
The 21-year-old winger, rated at £8million, is a free agent in the summer but Blackpool can still expect considerable compensation should he move to another English club.
However, Ince is free to talk to foreign clubs in January and is attracting interest from Ajax and Inter Milan, one of his father Paul's former clubs.
Ince is warming to the idea of such a move to improve his education in the game but that would deliver a crushing blow to Blackpool's finances.
Newcastle United, Everton, Tottenham and Swansea City are now considering offers in January. But they know that Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston will drive a hard bargain for his prize asset and will be reluctant to accept less than £5m, even though there will be just six months left on Ince's contract at that stage.
