Essendon are making one last attempt to try and keep Adam Saad at the club, according to AFL journalist Damian Barrett.
Saad, 26, has already requested a trade to the Blues after rejecting a deal to stay with the Bombers.
Barrett says the Bombers have been in contact with Saad in the last 48 hours and are still trying to keep him.
“Essendon is still trying to keep him,” he said on AFL Trade Radio’s Late Trade.
“They’ve made contact with him in the last 48 hours hoping that he changes his mind. He’s out the door and he’s not coming back.
“They didn’t value him enough to make him stay at the time, the deal they are now prepared to offer him is roughly in keeping with what Carlton has offered to him, but they didn’t offer it to him before Carlton did.”
Former Carlton list manager Stephen Silvagni added that the Bombers would be "kidding themselves" if they don't take Carlton's pick 8 in any sort of deal.
“If the Essendon Football Club doesn’t take Pick 8, they are kidding themselves,” he said.
“If it’s not on the table from Carlton, they are kidding themselves as well. Until we know whether pick 8 is on the table, we’re speculating.”
The AFL trade period runs until November 12.