"Enjoy him while we have him," was the message to Southampton fans from manager Claude Puel when questioned on the future of defender Virgil van Dijk after a typically inspirational display during last Saturday's 0-0 draw at home to Liverpool.
Sadly for Saints followers, it is a mantra that has become all too commonplace around St Mary's in recent years, where getting the name of your favourite player printed on your replica shirt has become a risky business.
But anyone who has watched Van Dijk at close quarters this season will appreciate why Puel cannot make any rash promises over the towering centre-back's long-term future, especially with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believed to be plotting a big-money move for the ex-Celtic star and teammate Sam McQueen, to continue the steady flow of Southampton players to Anfield.
Supporters frustrated at seeing their star players constantly linked with moves away from the south coast will take comfort in the fact the Dutchman signed a new six-year contract as recently as May but in the modern era, such deals are not worth the paper they are printed on. When the extension was announced, Saints officials knew there was little chance the 25-year-old would honour the full length of the agreement but were also aware it would strengthen their ability to drive up any sell-on fee.
The important thing for Southampton is to at least hold the circling vultures at bay until next summer. History tells us January is a difficult window in which to conduct such high-end transfer negotiations and with Saints' season still at a crossroads -- they are closer to the bottom three than the European places -- they cannot afford to lose someone as important as Van Dijk in midseason.
With goals hard to come by -- before the weekend's fixtures Southampton had the lowest chance conversion rate in the Premier League -- Puel's blueprint for success has been built on a solid defence, with the imperious Van Dijk the key component.
Behind the scenes negotiations with Chinese consortium the Lander Development Group over a proposed £200 million takeover further cloud the issue. Will current owner Katharina Liebherr see any New Year interest in Van Dijk as a final opportunity to recoup some of her family's investment? Puel, who has publicly backed the Swiss heiress to do what is right for the club, will be hoping the answer is a firm "No."
The Frenchman has gone on record saying he believes Van Dijk has the potential to become the world's best defender and has even made him captain for Southampton's Europa League campaign; a mark of his importance to the team on and off the pitch.
Such characters are hard to replace and while Southampton have become the masters in rebuilding from the ashes of big-name departures, many fans feel losing Van Dijk would be a bridge too far; one sale too many.
It is credit to head of football development Les Reed and his backroom team that Southampton have managed to cope with the loss of not just managers Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman but also players of the calibre Sadio Mane, Rickie Lambert, Morgan Schneiderlin and Adam Lallana.
Recording back-to-back club record Premier League points tallies against such a backdrop of uncertainty has been nothing short of a miracle, but take Van Dijk out of Puel's lineup and it is unlikely that upward momentum can continue.
The McQueen situation is a little more complex, with the 21-year-old stalling on the offer of a new contract, knowing the path to a regular first-team spot is blocked by Ryan Bertrand and fellow academy graduate Matt Targett, so Southampton may well decide to cash their chips.
But if Van Dijk continues his superb form for the rest of the campaign his reputation will only be enhanced, adding a few more zeroes to any transfer fee in the process.
Enjoy him while you have him. But Southampton must still have him to call upon beyond the next transfer window.