Lewis Grabban's future at Nottingham Forest could be intertwined with Lyle Taylor's as the veteran striker enters the final stages of his contract.
That is the view of Forest fan and broadcaster Darren Fletcher, who on the face of it would be keen for the Reds' 12-goal top scorer to stay into a fifth year at the City Ground.
However, given his status as their star striker and a £6m signing when he joined from Bournemouth in 2018, Grabban is understood to be Forest's highest paid player.
Given Grabban is also 34, Fletcher says that complicates matters and the situation is further clouded because Lyle Taylor is currently their third choice striker and an another high earner after joining on a free transfer from Charlton before the start of last season.
BT Sport commentator Fletcher feels Forest literally cannot afford to have two of their top earners on big wages but not playing if both are to remain at the club next season.
"You can't be a Championship club with the way finances are and have two players earning that amount of money and bring in someone else as well, unless it's a loan," he said on this Monday's Garibaldi Red Podcast.
"You are spending too much on players who might not be starting games. If you keep Grabban and Taylor on the wages they are on then they have to be starting, otherwise you are wasting cash.
"They're on very competitive Championship wages. If they aren't your number one and two strikers then you have to get rid of one of them.
"Is Lewis Grabban next year going to be your starting number nine for 46 games if you're in the Championship? If not then you need to use Taylor's money to get a starter in.
"It's a big ask for Forest to carry Taylor, Grabban and take another striker in the Championship. They have to make sure they use those salaries properly.
"This is the analytical process they have to go through. If Steve Cooper can make Lyle Taylor the player he was at Charlton then great.
"That's not the Lyle Taylor we're seeing at Forest at the moment. Can Grabban play every week when he hits 35?
"Is he better starting 20 games and coming on in the others? Is he happy to do that and what does his contract look like if he stays?
"They've seen the Derby situation so they will want to do it right. It will be a cold, hard business decision."
Taylor, 31, has scored eight goals in 58 games for the club meaning he is unlikely to be the number one striker next season regardless of what division Forest are in.
With Keinan Davis on loan from Aston Villa, Forest could go into the summer looking at a major overhaul of their attack whether they are in the Premier League or the Championship.
Fletcher feels those decisions must be taken carefully, especially when it comes to Grabban, who has been outstanding this season with 12 goals and four assists in 26 games.
"Age has got to be a factor. They've got to work out what they want to pay for a player of that age to do that job," he said.
"I suspect he's the highest paid player in the squad and he's 34. Do you want your highest paid player to be 34? Is Lewis Grabban willing to stay for less?
"There's a lot of mathematics involved here. They've got to work out if they can spend that money better. If they are still in the Championship then they will be among the favourites to go up if this form carries on.
"Therefore they are an attractive proposition for strikers who want to come. In a vacuum you keep Lewis Grabban, but there's factors with it to work out.
"They've got Keinan Davis until the end of the season and Lewis Grabban's contract will run out. At that point they're essentially strikerless.
"That can be a good thing or a bad thing. All of a sudden you have a blank page and a decent salary to change your team.
"We've said before about the need to find a 25 goal a season striker and this summer they could start that search from scratch.
"The flipside is, they might keep the two they have now and be satisfied. Lewis Grabban under Steve Cooper is a different player to Chris Hughton - a lot of them are.
"They need to work out what they can get from him next season and how much he has left. If he scores 10 more goals this season he makes everyone's mind up - easy choice."
