Rivals still circling as Suns keep lucrative deal on table for injured young gun

As many as five Victorian clubs are reportedly eyeing the emerging key forward.

EDITOR | February 14, 2022 - 5:17pm

Despite a season-ending knee injury to key forward Ben King, the Gold Coast Suns are reportedly keeping their lucrative two-year offer on the table for the young star.

King is among a bevy of key Suns players yet to recommit to the club past the 2022 season, with his ACL injury placing further intrigue into the speculation that surrounds the 21-year-old's future.

However, according to The Age, those close to contract discussions between Gold Coast and their star spearhead are of the belief that the Suns won't alter the deal they have already placed toward the emerging Victorian talent.

It is understood that Gold Coast have had the deal - which would keep King in Queensland until the end of the 2024 season - on offer for some time.

The Suns have expressed their confidence in retaining King, along with fellow young guns Izak Rankine and Jack Lukosius, for the future as a critical campaign under Stuart Dew nears its beginning.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JULY 16: Ben King handballs during a Gold Coast Suns AFL training session at Metricon Stadium on July 16, 2019 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

“The feedback from them has been really positive,” Suns football boss Wayne Campbell recently told News Corp.

“They walk around with a smile on their face. They are really committed to the Gold Coast and the Gold Coast Suns.

“They love being up here and we are really relaxed with where it is at. It seems positive."

As many as five Victorian clubs are understood to be ready to swoop on King's services should he opt to return to his home state, with the Saints and Magpies among those to be expressing interest, per The Age's report.

King would receive a near seven-figre sum from interested suitors hoping to pry the 53-gamer from Gold Coast.

While rivals will continue to circle, there is a belief King will ink his future to the Carrara club.

"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 told 7 News in recent weeks.

King has booted 89 goals for the Suns across three years in the AFL, having been recruited as a first-round selection in the 2019 National Draft.