Fremantle's General Manager Peter Bell has stated that the Dockers won't let Adam Cerra depart Cockburn at the trade table for anything less than they deem worthy.
Bell's statement comes in the wake of Tuesday's news that Cerra has sought a trade home to Victoria citing homesickness for his decision to depart the club that drafted him with the 5th of the 2017 draft.
Cerra's decision to leave Perth has come to pass after his decision to reportedly leave a deal with the Dockers worth around $3 million unsigned.
Speaking on SEN's Sportsday WA,ย the three-time winner of the Doig medal claimed the club will play hard ball to secure to the correct compensation.
โThe interesting thing at this stage is that Adam hasnโt indicated a team that he would like to be traded to,โ Bell said.
โHe has said that Carlton would be one of the teams that he and his management would speak to.
โWe drafted him as a pick five, heโs now played close to 80 games, he finished third in the Doig Medal last year, heโll have a very high placing not withstanding missing a couple of games this year as well, and heโs an outstanding character with leadership qualities.
โWe think heโs worth a lot.โ
Given that Cerra came out of contract at the cessation of the Dockers' 2021 season that saw them fall short of a finals berth, the 21-year-old is set to command rich offers from sides based in his home state.
However, as Bell stated, the Blues are the obvious front runner to secure his services, with early estimates suggesting that the blossoming midfielder could be set to earn around $750,000 next season.
Cerra has collected a career average of 17.2 disposals across his 76 games in purple and has also recorded a mean of nigh on two-clearances a contest since 2018.
These numbers rose sharply this season, with Cerra finding the football on 23 occasions per week, removing it from stoppages 3.5 times on average and kicking a career high five-goals across his 18 appearances.
As of yet, Carlton are yet to officially signal their intentions towards the Wesley College alumni.
Should Cerra eventually make his way to Princes Park, it would come after his new club could be forced to split their sixth pick at this year's draft or part with several members of their current playing roster, according to Fox Sport's Ben Waterworth.
