Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has said he has given the Manchester United target Nathaniel Clyne 10 days to decide where his future lies.
The right-back's contract at St Mary's expires in 2016 and Southampton have been in talks with him about extending his stay.
And while manager Koeman said Saints will do everything in their power to persuade Clyne to stay, he has set him a deadline as he wants to know as soon as possible.
The Dutchman said Southampton are yet to receive offers for the England international, who is also a reported target for Chelsea.
"We're still speaking with Clyney and his agent, but of course we have to know in 10 days," Koeman said in a news conference. "The club is doing an offer the maximum what we can do and then we expect the player's answer.
"I've spoken to Clyney, he's very happy and of course there is some interest but nobody has really bid for the player. All the players are happy with how the team is doing.
"But it's football, you never know. In football if you go in your last season of contract, we don't like that."
Koeman suggested Clyne's camp were responsible for the delay in concluding talks, adding: "Ask him, ask his agent, I don't know."
Southampton's director of football Les Reed said on Wednesday that he was optimistic the former Crystal Palace player would stay, stating: "The signs are good."
United are expected to try and recruit a right-back in the summer after Rafael da Silva has barely featured for manager Louis van Gaal this season, with winger Antonio Valencia standing in.