Former Swindon Town midfielder Jack Payne has received an offer from League Two Crawley Town, D3D4 Football understands.
The 27-year-old is highly sought after, with a number of League One sides chasing his signature but the West Sussex side are showing ambition by offering the player a deal.
The offer is thought to be a substantial one but the player is hoping to play in the third tier and has been in discussions with a number of clubs, including Portsmouth D3D4 can exclusively reveal.
Charlton Athletic have held talks with Jack’s agents over the past couple of weeks with Ben Garner taking a personal interest as a long-time admirer. No contract offer has arrived yet but it is expected to only be a matter of time.
The club may need to balance the books by offloading midfield options after the signing of Conor McGrandles on a large contract before committing.
Numerous other League One clubs have expressed an interest. It is understood that Danny Cowley has called Jack Payne directly to discuss a possible reunion with the player in a move to Portsmouth, although the club is yet to make a formal offer.
There may be no firm decision for a matter of weeks as Payne wants to assess his options in order to make the best decision at a pivotal time for the 27-year-old’s career.
words Ryan Whelan, D3D4 Football