Mark Warburton understands why Premier League clubs would be interested in Rangers youngster Billy Gilmour but hopes the teenager stays at Ibrox.
Reports claim the 15-year-old playmaker was shown around Chelsea's training ground last week, with a string of major European clubs including Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Barcelona also keeping tabs on Gilmour, who made his debut for Gers' U20 side earlier this month.
Gilmour played a starring role for Scotland U16s during last month's Victory Shield and interested clubs could sign the schoolboy for as little as £100,000 when he turns 16 in June, but Warburton has not given up hope of convincing him to stay put.
"Billy Gilmour is a Rangers player and I hope very much that he sees a pathway here and works his way through to our first team. Whatever happens from there happens," Warburton said.
"It's fully understandable that clubs will be interested. He's a very talented player and every Premier League club will have scouts watching. They are aware of all the best players in every country round the world.
"It's difficult for clubs like Rangers to keep hold of their best youngsters when you consider the financial disparity that exists.
"All you can do as a club is be honest. Are we going to outbid certain clubs? No, it's not going to happen. But can we offer them a pathway in a superb environment and a fantastic following? Yes we can.
"It may be for many of these young players - and not just Billy - that they are best served by staying at their home club, developing into the first team and once you have 40-50 appearances under your belt, then you move."
Warburton re-iterated that young players who emerge from the academy at Rangers will get their chance at Ibrox and said Gilmour had impressed during a recent U20s fixture.
"Liam Burt - who came on against Hearts at the weekend - shows that if you do well, you will get your chance," he said.
"I saw Billy play for our U20s last weekend. As a 15-year-old up against four or five Dundee first-teamers, he was excellent. But he's 15 and he needs to be looked after properly and taken through his development stages. Hopefully we can realise that here at Rangers in our first team."
While Gilmour may just be at the beginning of his career, the club's second oldest player Kenny Miller is still to find out if his third Ibrox stint will be extended beyond this summer when his contract expires.
Miller turns 37 on December 23 and is yet to be offered fresh terms, but Warburton hinted he would be happy to keep hold of the former Scotland striker.
"You know what I think about Kenny Miller. You know what I think about all the players in the squad," he said. "Kenny has been outstanding for us this season and we will maintain good dialogue with him and the powers that be, and we'll see where that takes us.
"Can he do a job for us next season? You're watching what I'm watching. Kenny has been first class in more games than not. He contributes in every game, he's a very clever footballer. He trains well every day and is a role model for the younger players."