The manager of off-contract Suns forward Ben King has stated his client is set to weigh up his options but will be leaning toward re-signing after the Suns formally tabled the talented tall an extension.
Robbie D’Orazio and King will hold critical talks in the coming weeks as they look to assess the opportunities on hand, with Victorian clubs set to circle the coveted 21-year-old.
King is set to miss the entire 2022 season after suffering an ACL injury last month, however the setback is understood to not have impacted the offer tabled from Gold Coast.
The Suns have reportedly offered a mouth-watering deal that would see King remain in Queensland until the end of the 2024 season, staving off anticipated interest from the likes of Essendon, St Kilda and Collingwood.
“There’s an offer from Gold Coast,” D’Orazio told SEN.
“I caught up with Ben during the week and he had surgery about five days ago in Melbourne, we will sit down in the next few weeks and try and get a deal down or at least present the opportunities that lay in front of him.
“He’s a really loyal person and having discussions with him, for mine I think he’s pretty happy where he sits at the moment.
“Hopefully he recovers well, Gold Coast have been fantastic for him so we’ll sit in front of him over the next week or so and see where it lands.”
King is among a bevy of Suns unsigned for 2023, with South Australian duo Jack Lukosius and Izak Rankine also set to weigh up their futures as interest from home state clubs is sure to emerge.
King is arguably the most valued out of the trio, having booted 47 goals in his third season at AFL level to finish seventh in the Coleman Medal standings.
Forward
Disposals
Marks
Goals
Recently speaking to 7 News, the Sandringham Dragons product stated his excitement in what is being built in Carrara, having placed little attention toward potentially joining twin brother Max at St Kilda.
"I've seen enough from this club in terms of the future that I think we are going to have here, finals or not, I'm pretty comfortable with where this club is heading," King said.
"Max puts no pressure on me whatsoever. He's loving it down there and he knows I'm loving it up here so he's never tried to tempt me or anything like that."
The Suns would have looked to balance their books ahead of their highly-anticipated season of retention signings and were able to off-load substantial salary figures with the departures of Hugh Greenwood and Will Brodie in the off-season.
The club did re-sign star midfielder Touk Miller to a new long-term deal, while former Tiger Mabior Chol inked a bumper deal to leave Punt Road for Metricon Stadium.