The door is ajar for Carlton to trade superstar forward Charlie Curnow despite the club saying no when the forward reportedly ”requested a trade” in his exit meeting.

After a busy week at Carlton following the confirmed free agency departures of Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni, Nine’s Tom Morris reports Curnow “raised the prospect of a trade” at his exit interview on Thursday.

But The Age went further and reported the two-time Coleman medallist “told the Blues of his wish to move to another club” with Sydney, Geelong and Gold Coast most closely linked.

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It appears clear the Blues would deal Curnow but only, as The Age reported, “if it was for one of the absolute A-grade players, such as Swans Errol Gulden, Isaac Heeney or Chad Warner, or Geelong’s Max Holmes – which appears improbable at this point”.

Trade talk surrounding has Curnow re-emerged, despite the 28-year old and Carlton shutting down speculation last month.

Curnow, contracted at Ikon Park until 2029, this week publicly reiterated his stance that he’d be playing for Carlton in 2026.

Sydney is in the market for marquee key forward like Curnow, but a facilitating a trade looks increasingly difficult.

Charlie Curnow appears likely to stay at Carlton (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

“I think it will be very tough to do a deal. The favourite still seems to be that Charlie will remain at Carlton. He’s obviously contracted there and stated he wants to stay,” News Corp journalist Lachlan McKirdy said on Fox Footy’s AFL Tonight on Wednesday.

“But it’s clear the Swans know they need to look around for some talent to add to this team. This is a team that doesn’t need too much to fix it to get it back into premiership contention, but a key forward is certainly at the top of the list.

“And if they’re going big, they want to go Curnow. They have a history of going for names like Franklin, Hall and Lockett. Curnow would be the latest one to add to that list.

“I think they’ve made their intentions clear that this is a person they’d to add to the team, even though it will be tough. They might look elsewhere if they know it’s going to be a definitive no.

“The consensus seems to be he’s going to stay at Carlton, but Sydney is going to try it’s best otherwise.”

Curnow booted 32 goals form 18 games in 2025 in a season disrupted by injury as the Blues missed the finals.