SYDNEY FC are in talks with former Socceroo Alex Brosque about a dramatic return to the club as its Australian marquee for next season.

Three years after he quit the Sky Blues in rather acrimonious circumstances, to take up a lucrative offer in the J-League, Brosque is out of contract at UAE side Al Ain and has been in talks with Sydney for several weeks.

FC CEO Tony Pignata on Thursday night confirmed the discussions, though he said they had not yet progressed to a formal offer, with the club believed to have a list of options as its Australian marquee with new head coach Graham Arnold to have the final say.

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But Brosque’s return would be hugely popular with the club’s supporter base, for whom the 30-year-old was a cult hero during a period when he became the club’s leading scorer in its history.

He was also the player’s player of the year for three consecutive seasons.

Though he has not featured for the national team under Ange Postecoglou, Brosque was highly rated by former Socceroos boss Holger Osieck who praised his improvement since switching to the J-League and adapting to a midfield role, though its believed Sydney have earmarked him as a left-winger.

In a bizarre twist, the man acting as Brosque’s agent is Anthony Crea, who left Sydney’s employ as strength and conditioning coach several weeks ago, though Pignata insisted there had been no crossover.

News_Image_File: Sydney FC could lure Alex Brosque back to the Harbour City.

“Yes we are talking to Alex, and everybody connected with the club knows what his abilities are and how successful he was in the past here,” Pignata said.

“He’s one of several players we’re talking to, as everyone knows we have several positions to fill and Graham is actively looking at options for next season.”

One of those is the re-signing of defender Matthew Jurman, which Sydney confirmed on Thursday.

The 24-year-old will stay with the Sky Blues until at least the end of the 2014-15 season, and he’s hoping to build on the steady run he had at the back for Sydney this campaign.

“I’m delighted to be staying with the club for another season,” Jurman said. “I’m looking forward to working with Graham Arnold and tackling the new challenges ahead and I think we’ve a good chance of going far.

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“I love playing for the club. I’m really close with all of the boys and the Members are always great towards me.

“With hard work I want to repay Graham for showing faith in re-signing me, and repay the fans through regular performances.

“I’m hungry to play more games as well. I played 21 this year, I want to build on that and as a club we want to win the Championship,” he said.

Jurman played for the Sky Blues in their successful 2009-10 campaign before switching to Brisbane Roar, where he won the A-League championship again, before returning to Sydney a year ago.

Originally published as Brosque set for Sky Blues return