BRYCE Gibbs is set to end speculation about his playing future and recommit to Carlton for up to five years.
Gibbs is one of the hottest properties in this year's free agency pool and Adelaide and Port Adelaide have expressed interest in the South Australian midfielder. But Carlton has been increasingly confident in recent weeks of retaining the restricted free agent as it made steady progress on a new deal to keep 2006's No.1 draft pick at Visy Park.
Carlton CEO Greg Swann told 3AW radio on Wednesday night that Gibbs would re-sign soon, with the length of the contract the only issue still to be resolved. Swann said the contract would be a four or five-year deal, but still had to be ticked off by Carlton's board.
"These deals because of the length and the volume still have to go via the board, but I think (Carlton football manager) Andy McKay has just about got that done," Swann said.
Gibbs' manager, Nigel Carmody, confirmed on Thursday that a new deal with the Blues was imminent.
"We are continuing discussions with the club and things are progressing towards finalising a new contract," Carmody told Fairfax Media.