Offers aplenty for star

FREE agent Tom Lynch will sign a two-year deal worth up to $2.5 million – if he stays at Gold Coast.

But he will sign a deal for as long as seven years – at either Richmond, Collingwood or Hawthorn – and be paid about $1 million a season, if he returns to Victoria.

On the day free agent Rory Sloane agreed to a five-year contract extension at Adelaide, Lynch’s future was no clearer.

Unofficially, it’s almost certain Lynch won’t be at Gold Coast next year.

The Tigers are considered the favourites to land Lynch, but major talks to come with the Tigers, Hawthorn and Collingwood will decide his final destination.

The length of term will be a decisive issue.

“If Rory Sloane can get five years to stay at Adelaide, then Tom Lynch, who is 25 or 26, should get six, probably seven years if he moves,’’ an industry source said yesterday.

The Suns are understood to have verbally offered Lynch a five-year deal, which would make him one of the highest paid players in the AFL, and have recently asked for a decision as soon as possible from their foundation player.

That the captain had not already committed to next year has the Suns fearing the worst.

Lynch’s talks with the Suns and his three suitors have stalled in recent weeks.

His manager Paul Connors has recently returned from overseas, while Lynch will have an operation on his injured PCL next week, which will require between four and six months rehabilitation.

Although there is slight concern about the injury, it’s anticipated it won’t drastically affect contract talks.

Clearly, if it was a money decision, Lynch would remain at Gold Coast.

The remote chance of him staying would be a big show of loyalty, in that he would give the Suns another two years to convince him they were a club with a strong future.

It’s understood Lynch has a terrific relationship with coach Stuart Dew and his teammates. But the lure of home after eight seasons as a Sun, and the prospect of on-field success, is powerful.