DANIEL Wells' future remains up in the air as the free agent's contract talks with North Melbourne continue to drag on.
Wells is the biggest name among 10 North players who remain uncontracted beyond 2016, with key forwards Jarrad Waite and Majak Daw also yet to re-sign with the club.
North is hopeful Wells will eventually accept the offer it has on the table, believed to be a one-year deal with a games-based trigger for a second year.
Wells is understood to have earned about $550,000 a season under his existing three-year deal and, like most players entering the latter stages of their careers, the 31-year-old is being asked to take a pay cut.
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The two-time best and fairest winner has also had his share of injury problems, with foot and achilles tendon issues sidelining him for all bar 12 games in 2014 and 2015.
Wells has made a successful return this year, averaging 23 possessions in 18 games and his form, particularly in the first half of the season, was outstanding.
When fit, the West Australian remains one of the Roos' most valuable players, with his mix of outside run and classy ball use a rare commodity at Arden St – even more so now Brent Harvey will depart at the end of the season.
Nonetheless, Wells' future seems unlikely to be resolved until North's finals campaign is over.
A genuine rival suitor has yet to emerge for the 242-gamer and AFL.com.au understands neither West Australian club has expressed interest at this stage.
If Wells decides to leave, North will be powerless to stop him given he is an unrestricted free agent. His exit would also likely prompt the Roos to abandon their bid for Collingwood free agent Nathan Brown as they would not want to dilute any compensation pick they received for their playmaker.
The uncertainty over Wells' future comes after North last month told veterans Harvey, Drew Petrie, Michael Firrito and Nick Dal Santo they would not be offered contracts for 2017.
That Waite, 33, was not among that group suggests he will play on at Arden Street next year. The former Blue's presence inside North's forward 50 would also allow the Roos to continue to patiently develop young talls Ben McKay and Sam Durdin.
Daw has agreed to sit down with North and work out his future when the club's finals tilt concludes.
The ruckman/forward would almost certainly enjoy greater senior opportunities next season with Petrie gone, but Daw's loyalty to the Roos is likely to be tested by several rival clubs who have closely monitored his encouraging progress in 2016.
Hard-running midfielder Sam Gibson, 30, has started talks with North about a new deal, while Brad McKenzie, Joel Tippett and rookies Will Fordham, Braydon Preuss, Robbie Nahas and Farren Ray are the Kangaroos' other out-of-contract players.
