SYDNEY FC has notified Adelaide United by letter it is keen to land defender Dylan McGowan as the A-League’s also-rans move to secure new talent during the competition’s hottest finish.

Behind the scenes, A-League clubs are hard at work sourcing players and offloading others, despite some being contracted. A Sky Blues source claimed McGowan, 24, had not yet signed for Sydney but the club had done the right thing by writing a letter stating its intent to take a closer look at the Reds’ off-contract defender.

McGowan has had a breakout season as stopper under Reds boss Guillermo Amor, playing every second of Adelaide’s 26 A-League home-and-away clashes this season.

If McGowan completes 90 minutes in Friday night’s potential Premier’s Plate decider against Melbourne City at AAMI Park he will be the only Red to have featured in every minute of United’s season.

Although City and Adelaide will be enemies on the pitch on Friday night, the clubs’ management teams, who are very close, have again been talking about players potentially swapping jerseys in the off-season.

After United traded Adelaide-born defender/midfielder Osama Malik for SA-born Stefan Mauk in a move which has proven to be beneficial for both clubs it appears three more deals could be on the way.

With off-contract Reds winger, Kenyan-born Bruce Kamau a point of interest for City, Adelaide has cast its eyes on two SA-born City products.

Ben Garuccio, 20, has been touted as joining his good mate Mauk at the Reds.

Campbelltown City’s junior product Marc Marino, 19, who scored last weekend in City’s 2-3 away loss to Perth Glory, could also return home.