Neil McCann has urged Hearts to make irreplaceable Lawrence Shankland the highest paid player at the club.
The pundit called on Tynecastle chiefs to "show their intention" and tie down Shankland to fresh terms amid ongoing transfer speculation.
The Scotland international - who netted the winner against Hibs - has been touted with a move next month with Rangers amongst rumoured suitors.
However, McCann has warned a transfer exit would be catastrophic suggesting losing Shankland would see the "house of cards fall down" for Hearts.
And the former Hearts player reckons chiefs must do everything in their power to keep Shankland as he advised the player be made the highest paid player in order to secure his services beyond the 18 months left on his current deal.
On BBC Sportscene, McCann commented: "I would be flabbergasted if Hearts don't want to show their intention here to their own fans and their own club.
"Steven Naismith was talking after the game about 'needing to compete, it's a building process that's moving forward in the right trajectory, seven wins out of nine'.
"But if you lose your marksman, the house of cards falls down because I don't think they can replace him, I really don't.
"I know there is Kevin Van Veen going about, he might be free...
"But I think they need to get this guy in a room, handcuff him to the room and make him the highest paid player at the club."
