Adam Cerra continues to make Fremantle sweat, with the emerging midfielder still reluctant to accept a four-year contract from the Dockers.
Cerra has had the new deal, worth around $3 million, in front of him for several weeks.
But the Victorian is being tempted by a move home where a group of interested clubs, including Carlton, lie in wait.
Cerra has not considered rival offers at this stage and is not the sort of person to be rushed into making a decision.
At the same time, Victorian clubs spoken to by SEN.com.au believe it is now highly likely that the 21-year-old will move back to the east coast.
There is also the possibility that Cerra will commit to a shorter contract at Fremantle to have more flexibility, with some believing a two-year deal to stay at the Dockers remains a live option.
Cerra, one of eight players the Dockers took in the 2017 national draft, signed a two-year contract extension after his 2018 debut season that took him through until the end of 2021.
Eager for midfield support, Fremantle took Victorians Andrew Brayshaw at pick 2 and Cerra at No.5 in the 2017 national draft despite West Australian key position pair Aaron Naughton and Oscar Allen being available.
Dockers chief executive Simon Garlick last month said the club was having “really positive discussions” with Cerra.
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“He’s clearly a highly valued member of our team,’ Garlick said on SEN WA’s The Sporting Goss.
“He’s an outstanding young man and he’s incredibly invested in the program and club in 2021 for what we hope is the foreseeable future.
“With that in mind, we’re in really positive discussions with Adam (Cerra) and his management and we look forward to progressing those positively in the weeks and months.”