bbcsportsChief executive David Gill says Manchester United have not ruled out paying the ?25.5m required to resolve the future of forward Carlos Tevez.
The 25-year-old's two-year loan expires at the end of June and there has been uncertainty as to whether United would be willing to make the deal permanent.
Gill thinks the ?25.5m valuation, made by Kia Joorabchian, who owns Tevez's economic rights, is a bit expensive.
"That's not to say we won't pay that," Gill told BBC Sport.
Tevez has scored 15 goals this season, including four in the Carling Cup tie against Blackburn, but he has previously expressed frustration that his future has not yet been resolved.
But with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City reportedly interested in the Argentine, United may now be prepared to meet the figure set by the player's representative Joorabchian, whose MSI company have owned the player since 2007.
"It's clear that if we wish to secure his rights and enter into a personal contract with him that we need to pay a certain sum. That is ?25.5m," added Gill, who thinks the valuation is top heavy.
"It's a decision we are now assessing. Our honest opinion in the current economic climate is that it is a bit 'toppy' but that's not to say we won't pay that.
"Other clubs may be prepared to pay that, or more, so we have to understand that we operate in a certain marketplace."
Earlier this month, Gill told the BBC Sport that he expected the Tevez saga to be resolved by early June.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has previously said that a compromise was needed because the current economic situation has changed drastically since Tevez was signed from West Ham in 2007.
Reports on Argentine television earlier this month claimed that Tevez was set to leave the Premier League champions.
"I feel that they have lacked respect towards me," he was quoted as saying. "It's not about whether they pay ?5m more or ?5m less but I feel I have been badly treated."
It's about time this was resolved, it must be affecting his game 
:Jimmie O':
