Brisbane admit Dayne Beams might have to wait a year before leaving Collingwood, despite his manager's confidence that the AFL clubs can strike a deal.
While the Magpies are sympathetic to Beams' wish for a trade, he is under contract until the end of next season and the two clubs are at loggerheads over what a deal will involve.
Brisbane are prepared to offer their top pick at No.4 in the national draft for the star midfielder.
But Magpies coach Nathan Buckley was adamant on the weekend that they also want a ready-made player from the Lions.
Beams is a Queensland native and is keen to join his brother Claye at the Lions.
He also wants to be closer to his father, who is in Byron Bay and is in remission from cancer.
"We think pick four is very fair, but we do understand that Dayne is contracted," Lions football manager Dean Warren told AFL Trade Radio.
"If we have to wait, we might have to wait until he's out of contract the following year."
But Beams' manager Paul Connors was confident on Monday that the two clubs will reach an agreement.
"I am sure they will get a deal done at some stage," Connors said.
Connors added that Brisbane, not Gold Coast, would be the better deal option for Collingwood.
Earlier on Monday, Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said they understood why their 2012 best and fairest winner wanted to leave.
But McGuire made it clear it is now up to the Lions to make the deal happen.
"We've been well aware of Beamsy's situation, we love the bloke, we want him to have a great life," McGuire said on TripleM.
"We're happy to facilitate if that's what's required because of the humanitarian situation.
"But if it's coming down to people wanting to go because they're getting paid more money then, no, there's a contract in place.
"If people want to do the right thing and do a deal, there will probably be a deal done."
Connors also confirmed that Essendon ruckman Patrick Ryder's preferred new club is Port Adelaide.
Ryder wants to leave the Bombers as the fallout continues from their supplements scandal.
Connors insists money is not an issue.
"This is a purely welfare-driven decision," Connors said.
"You can't tell someone how to feel."
But Ryder's future is also not clear-cut because he is contracted to Essendon for another two seasons.
Meanwhile, Connors said Fremantle veteran Luke McPharlin is likely to keep playing.
The key defender crucially missed the finals because of a calf injury.
Carlton have ruled out trying to poach Tom Mitchell from Sydney, but are interested in Greater Western Sydney youngster Kristian Jaksch.
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