Ward expects to receive "serious offers" for Westwood (Getty)
Carlisle United manager John Ward has admitted that the club are resigned to losing goalkeeper Keiren Westwood after contract talks with the player stalled.
Ward told BBC Radio Cumbria that the club was prepared to listen to "serious offers" for the 23-year-old, whose contract expires next summer.
"We've had tentative enquiries from two or three clubs already," Ward said.
"But we are resigned to something more concrete possibly happening in the next week or so."
Westwood, who moved to Brunton Park in 2004 following his release by Manchester City, was named in the PFA League One Team of the Year and earned a call-up to Giovanni Trapattoni's Republic of Ireland squad for the friendlies against Serbia and Colombia last month.
Westwood has so far refused to be drawn on speculation linking him with a move away from Brunton Park.
If there is to be any business done financially then it needs to be done now
Carlisle boss John Ward
"A lot has been said in the papers but I've got a year left on my contract," Westwood recently told BBC Radio Cumbria.
"Until I hear otherwise I'm a Carlisle United player. There's no use speculating about anything at the moment."
However, Ward accepts that the Cumbrians need to look at cashing-in on their highly-rated goalkeeper now, unless they can make a breakthrough in their contract talks.
"He's told me he will return for pre-season training but we don't think there will be a new contract at that stage," Ward added.
"He has a year left on his contract after which he can go anywhere he wants on a free. In six month's time he is entitled to talk to other clubs.
"If there is to be any business done financially then it needs to be done now."
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