It is believed Hull City have offered Central Coast Mariners keeper Mat Ryan a lucrative three-year deal.
Central Coast Mariners are bracing themselves to lose star goalkeeper Mat Ryan in the January window, with English Premier League hopefuls Hull City tabling a lucrative offer the club will find hard to refuse.
Ryan, 20, returns tonight from South Korea, where he was part of an experimental Qantas Socceroos squad which produced a memorable win in the friendly international in Hwaseong.
Now in his third season in the Hyundai A-League, he has been catching the attention of overseas clubs since winning the Goalkeeper of the Year award last season.
Ryan, who has a British passport, trialled with EPL sides Tottenham Hotspur and West Bromwich Albion just before the start of the season, and has now caught the eye of the 'Tigers' - who are currently fourth in the Championship table and well on course for a return to the EPL after three seasons in the second-tier.
Ryan is out of contract at the end of the season, and the Mariners are resigned to losing their young custodian sooner or later. Hull currently have Ben Amos - on loan from Manchester United - between the posts, but manager Steve Bruce is keen to secure Ryan for the promotion chase.
It's believed Hull have offered Ryan, who now has 61 A-League apperarances behind him, a lucrative three-year contract, while the Mariners can expect to receive a substantial transfer fee.
Having heard the news the Mariners were quick to respond to the claims that the Championship side had tabled a substantial offer for the services of Ryan.
Central Coast Mariners chairman Peter Turnbull confirming that negotiations with Hull are already taking place.
“It is disappointing that these private commercial discussions are in the public arena, but I can confirm Hull City are one of a number of clubs to have expressed an interest in signing Mathew Ryan in January.”
“Hull have tabled an offer for Mat as a result of his good form in the Hyundai A-League, selection for the Qantas Socceroos as well as his undoubted potential.”
“Negotiations with Hull are still at an early stage however we will continue to talk with them and several other clubs over the coming weeks in order to arrive at the best possible outcome for Central Coast Mariners FC and Mathew."
This article has been amended to include comments made by Central Coast Mariners CEO Peter Turnbull.