Carlton are understood to be considering a move for St Kilda midfielder Luke Dunstan as the Saints look to land Brad Crouch from Adelaide.
Dunstan feature just once in the red, black and white in 2020 after a pectoral injury cut his season short, but that hasn't stopped reports suggesting he could find a new club for next year.
According to Essendon great Matthew Lloyd, the Blues are believed to have Dunstan on their radar this trade period.
“My St Kilda man has also spoken about how this deal (Brad Crouch) will force out a favourite son and a much-loved player at the Saints in Luke Dunstan, who is very, very close to a lot of key players at the club,” Lloyd told AFL Trade Radio’s The Early Trade.
“The Blues are looking at Luke Dunstan as an inside midfielder to assist Patrick Cripps.
“He might be a bargain pick up for Carlton to try and help Cripps with some of the physicality through the midfield.”
Port Adelaide champion Kane Cornes questioned why the Crows hadn't pushed for Dunstan, who is a South Australian local.
“I was a little bit surprised that Dunstan didn’t draw more interest from Adelaide,” Cornes said.
“With the bodies they’ve lost through the midfield in recent years with (Cam) Ellis-Yolmen, (Hugh) Greenwood and now (Brad) Crouch, I would have thought they needed some help for the youngster in there.”
Dunstan, as well as defensive duo Dylan Roberton and Jimmy Webster, have all been linked to departures at St Kilda.