Skipper Tom Aldred yet to agree to terms with Brisbane Roar for next season

Roar captain Tom Aldred wants to remain with Brisbane next season but his future is yet to be determined.

Roar captain Tom Aldred’s future remains uncertain despite Brisbane coach Ross Aloisi insisting he wants the inspirational defender at the A-League club next season.

Aldred. 33, is in his fifth season with the club and has been the Roar’s captain since debuting for Brisbane in 2019.

The England-born former Scotland under-19 international is also on the verge of becoming an Australian citizen.

And while Aldred – who is about to enter the final six months of his Roar contract – declared on Wednesday he wanted to sign a new deal with the three-time A-League champions, he is yet to agree to terms with Brisbane officials.

“It’s ongoing with the football club,” Aldred said.

“This is my fifth season (with the Roar). I’m very settled at the football club. I’m happy here, I’m happy with the way we’re going, so yes (I want to stay).”

Tom Aldred (left) hopes to remain with Brisbane Roar next season. Picture: James Elsby/Getty Images

Roar chief executive officer Kaz Patafta, who works closely with the club’s recruitment boss Zac Anderson, also wants Aldred to remain with Brisbane.

“We’ve made Tom an offer and we’re waiting for him to come back to us. We want him to stay,” Patafta said.

Aloisi was full of admiration for Aldred.

“Tom’s a leader – he’s a fantastic player,” Aloisi said.

“Tom in defence is like a goalscorer – he saves you a goal a game with some of the stuff that he does. For me he’s a key player for this team.

“I’ve said it from day one that he’s a player that I want to keep at the club.”

It’s a similar situation with the Roar’s star Irish midfielder Jay O’Shea, who is also off contract at the end of the season.

Age is not diminishing 35-year-old O’Shea’s quality, with Patafta insisting the Roar were doing everything they could to keep the playmaker at the club beyond this season.

“Jay is very important to what we’re building here,” Patafta said.

“They (O’Shea and Aldred) are integral to us.”

Aldred also felt Aloisi was crucial to the Roar having a successful future.

“For me Ross has completely revolutionised the football club both on and off the pitch,” Aldred said.

“It’s been fantastic for the likes of us experienced players to have someone like Ross come in the dollar and give back what we feel we’ve given to the club.”

The Roar, who host Central Coast Mariners at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night, are trialling Japanese winger Daizo Horikoshi, with Aloisi hopeful of signing the 27-year-old attacker in next month’s transfer window.

Horikoshi is currently on the books of Filipino club Kaya-Iloilo, and scored for them against the then-Kevin Muscat coached Yokohama F. Marinos in the AFC Champions League last month.

“We’ve had a good look at him. I think he’s a very good player,” Aloisi said.

“I’ve recommended to Zac Anderson that we sign him.”

Patafta said he would back Aloisi’s judgement if he wanted to sign Horikoshi, and that the coach had the “100 per cent” backing of the club.

Originally published as Skipper Tom Aldred yet to agree to terms with Brisbane Roar for next season