"Irreplaceable" Michael Smith worth £10 million to Rotherham United manager Paul Warne

Michael Smith celebrates against Doncaster Rovers. Picture by Dave Poucher

The deadline for deals is 11pm on Tuesday and the Millers are braced for offers for the centre-forward whose two-goal haul settled yesterday's League One derby against Doncaster Rovers in their favour.

Warne warned potential bidders that the 29-year-old will be going nowhere on the cheap.

"It would take pretty colossal offer for us to get rid of him," the boss said. "It's the owner who will decide. If you ask me what Smudge is worth to me, I'd say £10 million. He's irreplaceable for me as a manager.

"A striker who wins heads, hold up the ball, scores goals and work hard is a good asset for any club. But you'll do very well to take him off us."

Several Championship sides have shown interest in Smith who is in the last year of his contract and has rejected a new one after three and a half years of sterling service at AESSEAL New York Stadium.

"I have spoken to him about it," Warne said. "I've told him it would take a pretty impressive offer for us to sell.

"If he gets a move fitting for him and it's good for the club, I'll be buzzing for him, and he knows that. He enjoys playing football here. I'd be naive to think other people don't like him."

Chairman Tony Stewart is a huge fan of the targetman who was signed ibn a free transfer from Bury in January 2018 and says he is like a son to him.

Talent-spotters were out in force at New York as Smith turned in a man-of-the-match display against Rovers.

Warne said: "My only fear is this: if people came today to watch him as the last tick of the box - "If we all like him then we're doing it" - then that box was ticked. I don't think anyone was there for that. I haven't had a call from one manager who wants to sign him.

"But if they did come today, they're not going to leave thinking: 'He's not for us.'"

Rotherham are in the market for a striker themselves and will try to make it two in the event that Smith does depart.

"I'm expecting a late day on Tuesday," Warne said. "We're trying everything we can."