Melbourne Victory braced for James Troisi exit as talks on new deal stall

Melbourne Victory is braced for a parting of the ways with key midfielder James Troisi as talks between the Socceroo and the defeated grand finalists appear to have ground to a half.

Troisi is in Adelaide with the national team for the all important World Cup qualifier with Saudi Arabia on Thursday night, but his club future looks to be in limbo.

His last game for Victory was in the Grand Final penalty shoot out defeat to Sydney, and the longer the impasse lasts the less likely many in the Victory camp believe it will be resolved with him re-committing to the club.

It is understood that Troisi, whose form this season has been good enough to win him a recall to national team colours after a post Asian Cup period in the wilderness, has rejected two offers from the club.

The first, it is believed, involved a significant wage hike and the designation as marquee player.

Agreement could not be reached on that, and, according to insiders, a further deal was tabled but nothing has been signed.

Meanwhile rumours continue to build that the 29-year-old will be playing elsewhere next season. Several clubs, including cross city rivals Melbourne City and Western Sydney Wanderers have been mentioned as possible suitors for the Adelaide born and raised player.

Troisi has publicly made little comment but in an interview last week he suggested no offer had been tabled - something Victory insists is not the case.

The skilful attacker is in his second spell with Kevin Muscat's team, having played in Europe and the Middle East before returning to Australia to try to reboot his career after those ventures failed to provide him with the platform he wanted.

It is undeniable that Troisi made a significant contribution to Victory's solid season.

But as reports surfaced that he was looking for a near seven figure sum as a marquee player - which would put him on a bigger wage than current leading scorer and marquee man Besart Berisha - many amongst the club's fan base began to wonder whether he was worth it or whether such a sum, spent elsewhere, might bring greater value next year.

Troisi's track record over a peripatetic career has been rather hit and miss: one good year followed by a departure for pastures new or a down season before he reignites interest with a string of good performances for a new club.

Muscat needs a major rebuild for next season, and he is off in Europe scouting players on an off season break. The question is whether the coach may eventually decide that such brinkmanship over a player like Troisi, who is talented but does not actually score that many goals, may not be worth it - especially if he can use such a hefty sum to lure a foreign talent who could offer similar or better performance.

Victory has already signed another Socceroo in centre back Rhys Williams and recalled young defender Thomas Deng from a spell in The Netherlands.

It has allowed French-Tunisian winger Fahid Ben Khalfallah to join Brisbane, while Spanish defensive utility Alan Baro has moved to Central Coast. Former premiership winning central defender Nick Ansell and midfielder Rashid Mahazi have both also left the club since the Grand Final loss.

The Age