Sydney have been linked to cross-town star and GWS free agent Harry Himmelberg as the Swans plan to secure more key position talent.
The Swans will have a void in attack next year with Lance Franklin's expected retirement, while young Western Australian Logan McDonald is set to take the reins as John Longmire's first-string forward target from 2024.
The New South Wales side have further developing options in Hayden McLean and Joel Amartey to consider for their future plans in the front third, however the tall duo are both off-contract this year.
Sydney have already been linked to in-demand Carlton tall Tom De Koning in recent weeks, with the 23-year-old potentially in line for a sizeable long-term deal should he look to make the move north to the Harbour City.
Their reported interest in De Koning would come amid plans to bolster both their tall forward and ruck stocks, with the Swans potentially seeing the Victorian as an apt replacement for Tom Hickey in the middle.
Should any move for De Koning fail to transpire, the Swans could still fill a void in attack with the addition of Himmelberg, with Sydney showing some level of interest in the Wagga Wagga native, according to The Herald Sun.
The Giants are already said to be battling with salary cap concerns heading into this year, with Himmelberg's potential asking price of nearly $700,000 per season likely to spell some concern for GWS.
While the orange and charcoal are said to be confident in retaining Himmelberg on a new deal, the Swans could be seen as a valuable landing spot given their place within a premiership window, with the Giants looking likely to enter a fresh rebuild under senior coach Adam Kingsley.
GWS will have five players penned to deals north of seven figures this season, according to AFL reporter Sam McClure, who this week told The Tradies Podcastย that the club is again facing some issues financially.
"The Giants' cap is still an issue," McClure said. "Three years running now, it's still a major issue. It doesn't help when you've got five guys earning a million bucks a year.
"The five guys that they're playing five million bucks to is Toby Greene, Lachie Whitfield, Stephen Coniglio, Josh Kelly and Nick Haynes.โ
Himmelberg can also be deployed as a defensive stalwart, having shown plenty of promise in an intercepting role during the back half of last year.
The 26-year-old has shifted between both ends of the ground across his career but looked to be a special player as a defender for the Giants in 2022. He began his side's Round 1 bout with Adelaide as a forward, but eventually moved into defence late into the game.
Himmelberg's manager Dave Trotter recently hinted that a number of his clients at GWS face an uncertain future, with Himmelberg being one of them.
"We were up there seeing all the Giants' boys last week, they are all really happy," he told The Age last month.
"But I think they are all waiting to see what happens. There is always interest in the free agents. We hope our boys are happy, but there are only 22 spots a week for a list of 40-odd.
"The odds are we will be moving a couple."
Himmelberg will suit up for the Giants on Sunday when they face West Coast at Optus Stadium, with that match being his 129th for GWS.
