Intrigue surrounds the AFL future of reigning Norm Smith medallist Jason Johannisen as the Western Bulldogs lock away another young defender.
The 24-year-old is off contract at the end of the year and has boosted his market value with a strong start to the season.
Johannisen last month renewed contract extension talks with the Bulldogs, who were believed to have offered him around $500,000 a season.
But the West Australian is likely to attract more-lucrative offers elsewhere, considering the growing need for players with line-breaking speed.
West Coast and Fremantle are considered potential suitors, with Johannisen's manager Tim Galic confirming the Eagles' interest to Fox Sports.
It comes with fellow West Australian backman Marcus Adams agreeing to a new three-year deal with the reigning premiers.
Small forward Clay Smith and defender Bailey Williams also recently signed contract extensions, with veteran Matthew Boyd acknowledging the stalled talks with Johannisen as a "delicate situation".
"We've just had a couple of players actually sign up throughout last week which is fantastic news for them," Boyd told radio RSN927 on Tuesday.
"It's great to see when those guys do sign up but you don't want to get caught up too much in the ongoing negotiations, especially when it can get played out in the public domain like it is with JJ a bit."
Johannisen was adjudged best-afield in the Bulldogs' 2016 grand-final triumph over Sydney, racking up 33 disposals, nine inside 50s and seven marks.
Coach Luke Beveridge this month expressed hope Johannisen would forego more money elsewhere - as a number of players did during Hawthorn's golden era - to chase more premiership glory with the Dogs.
"The Hawks for a long time had that destination club title which was very apt - they've earned that. And for us to be a club that players want to stay at, want to come to, we've got to do a lot right every day," Beveridge told Fox Footy's On the Couch.
"We'll offer Jason a very solid contract but hope he wants to stay because he loves where he plays and he loves where he works and he loves his teammates."
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