Gold Coast Suns list manager Craig Cameron has claimed that key forward Ben King has been offered a chance to extend his stay at Carrara beyond the end of next season.
Though contracted until the end of 2024, King has long been linked with a move back to Victoria. And with a slew of Melbourne-based clubs in the market for a key forward, the Suns are keen to lock King away long-term.
Speaking to AFL Trade Radio on Wednesday, Cameron revealed that King has a deal in front of him that would keep him in the Sunshine State until he meets free-agency triggers.
"What he's basically got is an offer in front of him to extend. There's no actual clause in his contract, he's got an offer for him to extend," the Suns' list boss said.
"That sits there at the moment."
Coming off a 40-goal season, King is not set to meet free-agency markers until the end of 2026, meaning the deal before the 23-year-old is set to cover a further two seasons beyond the end of 2024.
And while the twin brother of St Kilda forward Max King is yet to intimate that he wishes to depart the Suns' fold, Cameron expressed the club remained keen to get the deal done.
"Once he gets back from overseas and the pre-season starts, we'll progress the conversations from there with his management group," Cameron added.
Gold Coast's forward stocks have already undergone an overhaul this off-season, with joint Frotsy Miller medallists Chris Burgess and Brodie McLaughlin either requesting trades or delisted within the past week.
Fellow VFL premiership player Mabior Chol also appears bound for the exit, with several clubs chasing the contracted Sun.
Any void will be handily filled, however, by the arrival of draft-year gun and Gold Coast Academy prospect Jed Walter.
The powerful key forward is expected to be joined in red and gold next season alongside fellow Academy prospects Ethan Read and Jake Rogers.
The Suns will likely be forced to match bids for each of the aforementioned trio on draft night in November.