Crewe Alexandra boss Steve Davis has admitted that he does not expect Luke Murphy to be at the club for the start of next season.
The 23-year-old, who scored in the 2-0 win over Southend United in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final on Sunday, is regarded as one of the best midfielders in League One.
"I haven't had any enquiries for Luke. A lot of people have been watching. Maybe something might happen in the summer, who knows?" Davis told Sky Sports News.
"He's a very talented lad. We feel he's better than Ashley Westwood because he's a goalscoring midfielder.
"Where he's going to go? I don't know. When he's going to go, I don't know either. I've had no enquiries but I'm sure something will come of that, maybe in the summer. And he'll go with our blessing because he's ready to go. We can't hold on to him forever."
Westwood joined Aston Villa from Crewe last summer.