I don't think @SKD and @Mr X understand what 'commit definitively' means.
When Ralph said 'he is our player for another year' he was referring to the year left on his contract. At the time there may not have been a reason to sell, but things change, for example a club offering £30m for a 29 year old with 1 year left. It is a struggle to think of any players in the last year of their contract who have been sold for £30m.