Star power: Striker Peter Crouch is not likely to be heading to the A-League. Credit:Matthew Lewis

Football Federation Australia and Fox Sports are desperate for clubs to boost interest in the competition with high-profile guest players but clubs are less enthusiastic midway through the season with most revenue streams near exhausted. Clubs are eager to give fans the opportunity to watch big name players play in the A-League but feel it is only financially viable making such signings before the start of the season when they can gain a return.

"Commercially it's got to make sense with the right player. It's very hard to get your money back in January when all your memberships are sold, sponsorship deals are done and everyone's bought their merchandise. The only thing is gate revenue and that's not going to cut it when you're spending a million bucks. You've got to try and make the commercial aspect work as well," Sydney FC chief executive Tony Pignata said. "All you're relying on is ticket sales and half of the remaining 14 games are away so you don't get much revenue."

Sydney are in the hunt for a striker this transfer window and having failed to convert half-a-dozen or more chances against Melbourne City on Saturday night, it is no wonder why. The club still has approximately $250,000 available within the salary cap and prefers to sign a player within the allocated space. The club has filled its allocation of five foreign players so unless any depart in January, that signing would have to be an Australian player.

Giorgios Samaras is another player being shopped around to A-League clubs with Central Coast Mariners leading the race for his signature. The 81-time Greek international and former Celtic and Manchester City striker is emerging as a strong candidate as a guest player in the A-League given he holds an Australian passport and would not occupy one of the five visa-player spots. His father was born in Melbourne.