If Liverpool and Chelsea come in for him then it may create an issue from the player side, that's the fear.
Having a bit of interest and floating the idea of a possible loan (seriously Chelsea?) were hardly situations the club could be forced into accepting.
Certainly the resurgence of McAtee as a number 10 or as a right sided player in 3-4-3 who can cut inside has added perhaps an additional consideration to this. We also gave Burnley an absolute schalacking and Berge wasn't available that day.
It will come down to money. If they offer his reported 35m release clause then we will have no say. This might arguably be the best outcome given time left on his deal. It then forces you to move and and you move onto a replacement who will have a long time left, removing one further hurdle for the summer. Into the last 18 months unless we have a further option on him and he could just hold out and walk for nothing a year later.
Guarantee Liverpool will come in with a 20m opening bid if they do show interest. That would be straight in the bin. Despite 2 injury issues that have caused absences, he's seldom out with niggles and they are not issues with long term damage. I.e. the old 'he's not the player he was before the injury' isn't a topic on people's lips. Not like say if ever O'Connell made it back to the grass. The thought that after 3 years acclimatising to England and he's now worth less than we paid for him would be an absolute insult.
If he does end up moving then you have to be pushing for his release clause being met especially as days tick on in the window and especially with two of England's biggest and in Chelsea's case, richest clubs being the ones in the mix.
You wouldn't replace his attributes but then again at 6'5", he's awkward to play against but I wouldn't say he bullies players and physically dominates in the same way as Yaya Toure. Even the way he injured his knee, that opposition guy would have been in a heap on the floor having been shrugged off, if he'd got that physicality to his game.
I'm not even sure what type we'd go for. At present you can play a 3-4-3 and have a McAtee or Khadra cutting in from the right as McAtee second half vs Cardiff or as a 10. You've also got Doyle to come back in. Doyle is a decent crosser and passer. He's also another option on the right if needed, either the right of a middle three with Norwood and Fleck/Osborn or the right of a front three. I'm not convinced Kone is quite the answer. Who knows it may be the month for Coulibaly to impress in the FA Cup if he's back fit and solve the problem for us. Maybe we try fkr a more offensive player like the striker at Villa?
Whatever we do, no giveaways and I'd certainly be happy to just retain the status quo, as be still does fell like a bit of an ace in certain games, even if this isn't as consistent as we'd like.