However, coach Kenny Lowe is facing competition from Central Coast Mariners and Adelaide United for the 21-yar-old centre-back who joined Mark Hughes's side as the final signing of former boss Tony Pulis - but did not make a first team appearance in 2014-2015.

A product of Perth's ECC Joondalup football factory, which produced the likes of Socceroos Rhys Williams and Chris Herd, Grant began a four-year adventure in England with Portsmouth, where he made one senior appearance in a League Cup tie.

There were loan spells at non-league Eastleigh and Havant and Waterlooville before before his departure of the Midlands.

He spent last season at Conference club Macclesfield Town on loan and news of his release by Stoke prompted Lowe into offering him a return ticket to his roots.

Perth, which has been hit by a raft of departures since its salary cap woes, remains the front-runner, though the Mariners have also jumped into the frame with a late bid.

Grant’s agent, UK-based Gary Williams, said: "He's a Perth boy and is keen to come home to play regular football and boost his chances of selection for the Olyroos.

"He's been involved with the Under-17s before and is determined to get noticed by the national team again.

"Perth was certainly the favourite but the Mariners have also come in and are quite serious. There's been some interest too from Adelaide, so we'll see where that all takes us."