WEST Coast faces an uphill battle to retain Jeremy McGovern due to a salary cap squeeze that also implicates Andrew Gaff, Nic Naitanui and Josh Kennedy.

Foxfooty.com.au understands the McGovern camp wants $1.1 million per season across six years — a figure the Eagles will find almost impossible to pay without losing other established stars.

The intercept defender has put off contract talks until the end of 2018 after the club tabled what is believed to be a four-year proposal worth a total of $3.2 million.

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Given Fremantle and Victorian clubs are lining up to pay the 26 year-old well over $1 million per season, the Eagles offer is unlikely to be enough to keep the restricted free agent at West Coast.

There is major demand for Jeremy McGovern. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Sources close to the Eagles suggest the decision will essentially come down to loyalty and McGovern’s rock solid relationship with coach Adam Simpson.

Few could begrudge McGovern for requesting $1.1 million per year on a long-term deal. He is arguably the finest intercept player in the AFL and still has several good years of football ahead of him, providing his remains fit.

His workrate was questioned early on in his career, but he’s becoming a professional in recent years and generally his body is in good shape.

But spare a thought for Eagles list manager Brady Rawlings, who faces a difficult task this year.

Rawlings will also have to navigate contracts for Naitanui and Kennedy over the next 18 months to ensure both stars finish their careers at West Coast, while Andrew Gaff is third favourite for the Brownlow Medal and no certainty to stay.

As reported on foxfooty.com.au, Sydney made an inquiry for McGovern earlier this year but Swans officials are adamant there has been no serious play for McGovern due to their salary cap squeeze.

North Melbourne is not out of the race for McGovern, but it’s understood the Kangaroos are focusing their attention on midfield talent and may launch another play for Josh Kelly in 2019.

McGovern, who recently became a father, is very close with Adam Simpson and is a well-liked figure at West Coast. But big money offers and long-term deals have the potential to set him up for life and even teammates privately say he would be negligent not to consider his options.

Foxfooty.com.au has also been reliably told McGovern is not a fan of flying, and although it’s not expected this will be a central part of his decision, it may play a small role with Western Australian clubs racking up more kilometres in the air than any other team.

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McGovern has conceded he is after a deal that will set him and his young family up for life.

“It’s probably that long-term security — I reckon that’s what everyone would be wanting,” he said last month.

“That’s something we’ve been aiming at with my management group. This could be my last contract I guess if it is a long one.”

Manager Colin Young is looking after McGovern and admitted there are no shortage of offers for the best intercept player in the game.

“There’s a few clubs looking for intercept players like Jeremy, and you’d imagine that two or three would be in that market,” McGovern’s manager Colin Young said on Perth radio recently.

“It would be ridiculous of me to say that Fremantle wouldn’t have picked up the phone once Jeremy made the decision he made to just leave discussions with contracts until the end of the season.

“I’m fairly sure that fans of Fremantle wouldn’t be too happy if they hadn’t picked up the phone just to find out where he was at.”

McGovern in action against Carlton. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Earlier this season, Kane Cornes told SEN it would be a risk to offer McGovern $6.6 million over six years.

“You may have to (lose him) because he’s probably replaceable when you look at the sort of money he’s wanting,” the Port Adelaide great said.

“In terms of the risks what I’m saying is he’s not a player that looks like he prepares as best he possibly could and so I think it would be a risk to give a player a six-year contract that can become complacent.

“Six years is a long time and you’d want to be a 100 per cent sure that their body can cope for six years and they’re going to do everything they can to return that investment.

Gaff, who is also a restricted free agent, is in no hurry to commit to a new deal and it’s understood Melbourne fancies its chances bringing him home to Victoria to play for the club he supported as a child.