CARLTON midfielder Tom Bell is at the centre of a conundrum as Blues officials try to juggle their senior and rookie lists.

Bell, 21, appears to be fourth in line, behind fellow rookies Levi Casboult, Ed Curnow and Zach Tuohy, for elevation to the senior list, despite an impressive 2012 season.

It would be unusual for a club to elevate three rookies, let alone four.

North Melbourne, Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs last year had the most elevated rookies with two. The Roos elevated Luke Delaney and Cameron Pedersen while Adelaide elevated Matthew Wright and Aidan Riley.

The Bulldogs elevated Luke Dahlhaus and Matthew Panos. Seven other clubs elevated one rookie.

Clubs can elevate as many rookies as they like but in doing so they limit their scope to select untried youngsters in the national draft.

If Bell isn't elevated to the senior list and Carlton only offers another year on the rookie list, he could field offers from rival clubs that would be interested in placing him on their senior list.

Several clubs are likely to be interested in the strongly built midfielder, who impressed while playing the final seven games of 2012, having made his debut against the Western Bulldogs in round 17.

Click here to view Bell's career stats

A Carlton spokesperson said on Thursday that Bell and the club are still in talks.

Carlton veterans Jordan Russell and Bret Thornton are investigating their options through free agency.

Rohan Kerr has been delisted, and there has been speculation about whether Paul Bowers will keep his spot on the list.