Star Adelaide defender Jake Lever is in no hurry to sign the contract offer the Crows have made him

THE Crows have made a contract offer to star defender Jake Lever, but the youngster is in no hurry to sign it.

Jake Lever handballs as he is tackled by Ryan Schoenmakers during their round 14 clash at Adelaide Oval.

YOUNG Crows defender Jake Lever has a contract offer from the Adelaide Football Club, but the much-wanted AFL star-in-the-making is in no rush to endorse it.

And Lever is setting no time limit on his contract negotiations at West Lakes, setting up the great chase for his services to drag on until the end of the season in September.

“I don’t want the distraction,” said Lever, who has at least four clubs in his home state of Victoria prepared to match the Crows in the hot auction for the 21-year-old defender’s signature.

“I want to play footy,” added Lever on radio FIVEaa. “And I don’t want to be rushed (into a decision). I’m not sure I want it done before the finals.”

To reassure Crows fans – who will take issue with Adelaide’s list managers if the club loses either or both of Lever and out-of-contract West Australian Mitch McGovern - Lever backed up Adelaide coach Don Pyke’s claim that he is happy in SA.

“I’m happy at Adelaide – and I’m happy with negotiations with the Crows,” said Lever, who is expected to command a base salary of $800,000 a season. “It’s now about talking it over with my manager and (partner) Jess.”

Jake Lever flies to spoil Carlton’s Jack Silvagni.

Lever is linked to major offers from AFL premiers Western Bulldogs, Melbourne, Collingwood and Hawthorn. But he is denying the Bulldogs are the frontrunners for his signature on the basis of his father meeting with Western Bulldogs list manager Jason McCartney in Adelaide during last week’s Crows-Dogs game at Adelaide Oval.

“They’re mates – everyone is allowed to have mates,” said Lever, explaining his father and McCartney developed a strong rapport during an Australian Institute of Sport trip to Europe.

“I would not read anything into that.”

Lever, a first-round call (No. 14) in the AFL national draft, has shown no flaw in his form or game while coping with speculation on his future.

“Sometimes, players do not deal with the pressure well,” Lever said. “I am embracing it, as (team-mate, key forward) Josh Jenkins suggested.”

Lever is being made aware by his management of the offers being prepared by Adelaide’s rivals.

“And I trust my manager (Ned Guy),” Lever said.