Dunfermline chairman Ross McArthur admits the club have not set a deadline for an answer from Faissal El Bakhtaoui on whether he will sign a new deal at East End Park.
The prolific striker netted 30 times for the Pars last season, a scoring return that drew lots of attention from other sides both here and down south.
El Bakhtaoui’s Dunfermline contract ran out earlier this summer with the player stalling on whether he will put pen to paper on another.
However, the 23-year-old has now missed almost three weeks of pre-season training and manager Allan Johnston is actively looking for striking reinforcements.
If that search proves successful, then time will almost certainly have run out for El Bakhtaoui at Dunfermline.
McArthur said: “There is nothing to report at the moment (on El Bakhtaoui).
“There is no change – there is an offer on the table and we are still waiting to hear back.
“We have not set a deadline but that has not stopped us looking at other players.
“Allan is actively targeting strikers but so are a lot of other clubs.
“If the right one became available, then we will make a move.”
While there has been no movement in the El Bakhtaoui saga, season ticket sales continue to be buoyant for the Pars with McArthur expecting another surge this weekend.
And with several hundred existing book holders still to renew, the club are hoping to break through the 3,000 barrier before the start of the Championship season.
The chairman said: “We are expecting a big push on season tickets on Friday and Saturday once people have been paid.
“We are sitting around the 2,600 mark at the moment but there are 700 to 800 existing season ticket holders still to renew.
“However, with the books not being valid for the League Cup games, we expect some people are holding off from renewing.
“Last year we sold 400 to 500 in August so we are expecting to break through the 3,000 barrier before the Championship matches begin which is a figure we would be really pleased with.”
Dunfermline were one of the first teams to return for pre-season training with Johnston keen to have his players fully prepared for the early start to the League Cup on July 19.
The Pars will compete in a tough group that includes Inverness, Dundee United, Cowdenbeath and Arbroath with McArthur admitting he was disappointed that none of their games will be on a Saturday at home.
He said: “Allan wanted to get the players back early as he did not want to rush pre-season.
“We are already playing matches and with a tight squad, he did not want to risk lads picking up injuries.
“The League Cup ties are just around the corner and it will be interesting to see the impact of those from a footballing and financial aspect.
“For instance, none of our four group ties are at home on a Saturday so the draw has not been too kind to us.
“But that’s the hand we have been dealt and we will just have to get on with it.”
