Adelaide has shown its cards, reportedly offering key defender Mark Keane a further two years on his current deal to keep him in South Australia, with former club Collingwood swooping around.
The Crows have remained confident throughout the past couple of months that Keane would remain at the club, and want to extend him until the end of 2027.
The Pies have made it clear of their intentions to bring in key position players, especially in the backline to assist with Darcy Moore and prepare for life after Jeremy Howe.
Collingwood lost Nathan Murphy ahead of the 2024 season due to medical retirement after multiple bouts of concussion and trialled both Charlie Dean and Billy Frampton in the tall defensive slot throughout the year.
However, given Keane's link to the AIA Centre, having been listed in the black and white from 2020 to 2021 before returning to Ireland, it would be a welcome return for Craig McRae who's in desperate need of a ready-made defender.
"We're keen on any player that we think will make us better," McRae said two weeks ago.
"We're not willing to stand still, we're not going to sit at the trade period and not look at all acquisitions that we think can improve us."
However, Herald Sun journalist Jay Clark believes the Irishman is likely to stay put.
“I think he will stay at Adelaide, this is disappointing news for Collingwood fans,” Clark said on Fox Footy's Midweek Tackle.
“Collingwood was looking at Keane to be Darcy Moore's right-hand man in the backline, would've straightened them right up and been a good move.
“But in conversations over the last 24 hours, Adelaide has come in late with a better deal — a few more pennies in the bag and years on his deal.
“This is very good news for Adelaide, I think Keane will stay. A very popular player, he's the one who plays all the pranks and jokes on his teammates.”
An announcement on his future is expected this week, according to the Herald Sun.
Elsewhere, the Pies could lose running defender John Noble, who officially requested a trade to the Gold Coast due to family reasons.
Collingwood did speak to Port Adelaide star Dan Houston although it will be unlikely the club will be able to broker a trade.