Kevin Gallacher has urged Jordan Rhodes not to leave Blackburn Rovers until a Premier League club makes a move for his services.
The Scot recently revealed that he was disappointed by Blackburn's decision to turn down a bid in the region of £10m for him from fellow Championship club Middlesbrough.
However, former Rovers attacker Gallacher has told Rhodes that he if is going to improve as a footballer, it will be in the top flight.
"If it had been a Premier League club who had come in for Jordan Rhodes, and he saw a bid turned down, it would have been understandable if he chose to upset the apple cart in the way that he has," Gallacher told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.
"But, given the bid has come in from another team in our division, it's a little bit different. To me, if Jordan is going to better himself, he's got to go to the Premier League."
Rhodes, 25, has found the net on 74 occasions during his three seasons as a Blackburn player.