49ers GM: 'We feel the urgency' to keep Aiyuk

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said it's been "frustrating" that he hasn't found a resolution with star receiver Brandon Aiyuk, but he's felt the "urgency" to retain him.

"It's been a long, arduous, hard process, a hard journey," Lynch said on KNBR's "Murph & Markus" show Friday. "We started this early and for whatever reason haven't been able to get it across the finish line. That's been frustrating, but the communication still has been really good both with Brandon and his agent, and we're trying to figure out solutions."

He continued: "I'm always hopeful that we'll get there and get there soon. I can tell you, we feel the urgency to have him, the season's approaching, and we have ample time. The good news is Brandon is a really, really hard worker, he's taking great care of himself this offseason, he's in fantastic shape, but there's things you have to do on a football field and getting yourself in there with our team."

Aiyuk's standoff has taken the NFL by storm. The receiver has been unable to see eye-to-eye with the 49ers on a lucrative contract extension, leading to rampant trade buzz.

The 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly have a deal in place to orchestrate a trade, but the NFC West club hasn't signed off on it in hopes of keeping Aiyuk. San Francisco was also rumored to be unhappy with Pittsburgh's offer and is looking to get a receiver back in any potential trade.

The 49ers reportedly resumed contract talks with Aiyuk last week.

"Negotiations can get heated," Lynch explained. "I think it's his first time going through that, but no bad blood. People that are here see Brandon out here, there's a lot of love and respect for the relationship we've had and continue to have and hopefully will have into the future."

Aiyuk is slated to take in $14.1 million in 2024, the final year of his rookie contract.