BRISBANE Lions midfielder James Aish has not indicated he wants to switch clubs and could remain at the Lions beyond this year, his manager Liam Pickering says.

The 19-year-old South Australian, who finished fourth in last year's NAB AFL Rising Star award, comes out of contract at season's end and has attracted attention from rival clubs. 

Although Pickering could not confirm whether Aish would remain at the Lions next year, he said the gifted on-baller had not expressed any desire to leave.

"I don't know (if Aish will be at the Lions in 2016). At the moment, he's a Brisbane player," Pickering told radio station SEN on Saturday.

"Of course clubs would be interested in James if he decides to leave, but he hasn't told me he wants to leave.

"He's already there (contracted at the Lions) so he doesn’t need to tell me he wants to stay, he needs to tell me he wants to leave and he hasn't told me that."' 

Pickering said he was in regular communication with the Lions about Aish's contract situation.

"We haven’t put anything off until the end of the year … I'm talking to Brisbane every couple of weeks," he said.

The No.7 selection in the 2013 draft was omitted after the Lions' season-opening 12-point loss to Collingwood at the Gabba, where he finished the match with 13 touches.

Meanwhile, Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett – another player whose contract expires at the end of the season – was "close to a deal", his manager confirmed. 

"It's imminent, the deal is imminent," Pickering said.

"It'll be all sorted.

"I'm not sure when any announcements will be done, we've got to finalise the deal."