Dundee’s Nicky Riley is mulling over a move to League One early-season pace-setters Ayr United.
The former Celtic winger has been told he is surplus to requirements at Dens Park and is free to find another club.
Ayr boss Mark Roberts, who added former Dark Blues player Craig Beattie to his squad earlier this week, is keen to bring Riley to Somerset Park and has made contact with the player.
The manager said: “Nicky knows that we are keen to bring him here. He is thinking things over and hopefully he will be an Ayr player when we start playing again next weekend.”
Whether that move comes to pass or not, Dundee manager Paul Hartley insisted Riley has to leave Dens for the sake of his own career.
Hartley said: “Nicky’s in a position where he needs to play first-team football.
“He knows that himself but there are a lot of clubs struggling just now in terms of budgets.
“But I think for his own career, he needs to play.”
Hartley also admitted that he is looking to send another player, teenager Cammy Kerr, out on loan.
The full-back still has a big future at Dens but the manager is keen for the promising youngster to gain experience with regular games.
Hartley said: “Cammy is another one who needs to play.
“You see the competition we have at full-back, so he’s a lad who needs to go to that next stage and play competitive football.”