The Adelaide Crows are “digging their heels in” over negotiations to bring Izak Rankine to the club, according to Sportsday co-host Sam McClure.
Rankine, who has been at Gold Coast since being taken with pick three in the 2018 draft, requested a trade back to South Australia last month.
Negotiations have begun ahead of the trade period opening in early October, with the club’s early first round draft pick almost certain to be involved in any deal.
“It sounds like Adelaide is already digging their heels in over the Izak Rankine trade,” McClure said on Sportsday.
“If Essendon is the most infamous club to deal with in the trade period, the Crows are on the podium. They have done this before with Bryce Gibbs.
“If you’re paying $850,000 (a year) to a 22-year-old who was pick three, you probably have to cough up for him, don’t you?
“I can’t tell what they’ll have to give up, but Adelaide’s first pick this year is pick four and you’d have to think that is the starting point.”
Rankine is coming off a career-best year at Gold Coast, kicking 29 goals from 18 games.
He had widely been tipped to re-sign with the Suns before Adelaide came knocking with a big-money and long-term offer.