CARLTON is edging towards a new deal for emerging big man Tom De Koning.
De Koning, unsigned beyond this season, sits among the most sought-after out-of-contract players in the competition, six years after being taken by the Blues with the 30th pick in the 2017 national draft.
Sydney, St Kilda and Geelong are among a spread of clubs with varying levels of interest in the athletic 203cm ruck-forward.
But sources said the Blues and the De Koning camp were moving towards finding common ground on a two-year contract extension.
A new two-year deal would take De Koning through until the end of the 2025 season and his free agency year after eight seasons in the competition. At 26, that would most likely be De Koning’s big pay day.
A De Koning signature would be the latest in a spring of big-name signings at Carlton, following deals struck with Sam Walsh, Charlie Curnow, Harry McKay and Patrick Cripps in recent seasons.