Grays manager Mark Stimson has told Southend United to think again if they expect to clinch Freddy Eastwood's signature with a nominal fee.
Stimmo, himself an ex-Shrimper and one time teammate of current boss Steve Tilson, said: "I think it's wishful thinking on Southend's part that they want him for a small figure because he is scoring goals at League level now."
"When that happens there is going to be a lot of interest in him because he is a proven goalscorer and there are not many of them around these days."
Freddy, who has scored four times in two games for the Shrimpers, including a sensational debut hat-trick, is contracted to Grays for two more years.