Melbourne City’s centre back Michael Jakobsen could be on his way to Adelaide United in an unofficial swap deal for Reds stopper Ersan Gulum

MELBOURNE City’s Michael Jakobsen could be on his way to Adelaide United in an unofficial swap deal for Reds stopper Ersan Gulum. And the futures of two other wanted Reds players are seemingly at the mercy of their agents.

Adelaide United’s Ersan Gulum shadows Melbourne City’s Bruno Fornaroli. Picture: SARAH REED

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MELBOURNE City’s centre back and captain Michael Jakobsen could be on his way to Adelaide United in an unofficial swap deal as Australia’s richest football club in all codes looks to pick up Reds stopper Ersan Gulum for the new season.

Both stoppers are at the end of their A-League club deals in June.

Jakobsen’s pending move west isn’t the only one on the cards with the futures of other wanted Reds players Jordan O’Doherty and Jordan Elsey seemingly at the mercy of their agents.

Adelaide’s Turkish international centre back Gulum, 30, earlier this month talked to United officials about returning to his home town Melbourne and retiring from playing but it appears that plan will be put on hold.

Ersan Gulum of Adelaide United is likely to return to home town Melbourne. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

Melbourne City captain Michael Jakobsen could be on his way to Adelaide. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

The birth of Gulum’s first child in Melbourne this year after his wife Emel returned to their home state is life changing after Adelaide landed the lauded centre back in a 12-month loan deal from Hebei China Fortune in 2017.

Gulum commutes regularly to Melbourne when he has enough time off from United duties.

Gulum’s contract ends with the Chinese club at the end of the year with Jacobsen — a 32-year-old left-footed Danish stopper now on the Reds radar.

It’s understood talks are gathering momentum for the left-footed stoppers to trade places.

Jakobsen is also well known to another Dane, Adelaide’s Johan Absalonsen.

The pair featured in a Danish international friendly — a 3-1 win over Poland in 2010.

Absalonsen has been tabled a new United deal but exclusively told The Advertiser he still needs to weigh up his future options with his family before deciding if he wants to continue with Adelaide.

Elsey, 24, had been offered a new Adelaide deal but it’s understood his agent is shopping the stopper to a struggling Dutch first division club which did show interest before its former coach stepped down from his post this month.

It’s understood Western Sydney has put in an official request to Adelaide to speak to O’Doherty, 20, after Brisbane Roar showed interest but have not yet made a formal inquiry for the midfielder.

O’Doherty rejected a two-year Adelaide United contract during the 2017 preseason.

It’s believed the Reds did come back with another offer during the season.

The second offer was not as lucrative but according to sources better than Wanderers terms.

Adelaide officials preferred not to comment.

One player agent is yet to return calls with regards to his client.

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