Essendon has expressed their interest in acquiring out of contract Richmond duo Shai Bolton and Mabior Chol.
According to the Herald Sun, Bombers list manager Adrian Dodoro held talks with the pair’s manager Ralph Carr last week.
The report adds that the Tigers will not be able to pay Bolton, one of the breakout players of the season, in the range of $800,000, though Carr feels his client should be in that bracket.
Having moved on from Adam Saad, Joe Daniher and Orazio Fantasia last season, the Bombers have the salary cap space to land one or both of the Richmond duo.
Essendon coach Ben Rutten has a link to the pair, having previously coached at Richmond.
Chol has played the last three games as the Tiger’s primary ruckman in the absence of Toby Nankervis and Ivan Soldo.
Bolton has averaged 22 disposals per game so far this season while kicking 15 goals.
David King gave his thoughts on Bolton’s situation last week.
“It’s very simple. Shai Bolton, if you want to go and earn $1 million a season, you can go and get it, but that will still be there in three years time,” King told SEN’s Whateley.
“Right now, we’re in the window. We’ve already won our flags and we’re going again. We’ve probably got two or three more opportunities here.
“So you can sit back, and you’ll hardly be a pauper, you’ll probably be on $650,000 a year. Which is great money for you at your age while you build your reputation and your craft, while you destroy the competition.
“We want to build you into the next Dustin Martin. So go and ask Dustin what it was like when he could have gone to the Kangaroos. He stayed and look at it now.
“The money is the money now. It corrects. If your career goes on the trajectory, and all these other clubs are telling you that it will, but stay here, follow the course that Dustin’s mapped out for you.
“Put a five-year period together of excellence, then cash in. This kid’s going nowhere. Why would you leave?”