Stoke City boss Tony Pulis is prepared to sell Sunderland target Ricardo Fuller.
Fuller will leave with his blessing if a deal can be struck - although Pulis will be equally happy should the player remain.
"He has got a life after football to think about and Ric's certainly not one of those who will be going into management or coaching or anything like that," said the manager.
"Ric's Ric. He's a different animal - I think he's talking about buying nightclubs, discos and music centres and all that. He has the opportunity to do very well for himself and as a manager, he's not only a player of mine, he's a friend and you have to help them as well.
"It's been a very good relationship. We've had our moments together - I'd be telling lies if I said we hadn't had arguments and fall-outs over the years.
"But he's a good lad and I have a lot of respect for him.
"If he's got the chance to go somewhere else and get maybe something which will secure his future for the rest of his life then we have to look at that and at the bigger picture. We have to take his personal views into account and I do that in lots of ways because he's been a great player for us.
"He's been brilliant for us for five and half years and for the money we paid for him he has been one of the outstanding players this club has had.
"But if nothing happens and he is still here I'll be doing somersaults."
