IF ADELAIDE star Rory Sloane is out of contract at the end of the season, St Kilda coach Alan Richardson wants his services. 

Richardson's confirmation the Saints were keen on Sloane came after CEO Matt Finnis flagged the club's interest in the Crows midfielder earlier in the week. 

Sloane is currently sidelined with a fractured cheekbone, on which he underwent surgery on Tuesday.

Speaking at Adelaide Oval ahead of his side's clash with Adelaide on Saturday, Richardson said the 2013 Crows club champion was absolutely on his radar. 

"We want good players and Rory Sloane's certainly that," Richardson said. 

"We've made some pretty strong decisions with our list with respect to players like (Ben) McEvoy and (Nick) Dal Santo, Lenny Hayes has given it away, (Stephen) Milne’s given it away, (Brendon) Goddard has joined another footy club. 

"We've gone to the draft to get elite talent and there will be a time when we will need to complement those young blokes.

"We'll look at the end of the year and if someone like Sloane was there then of course we would look at it because he is an outstanding player and he is an outstanding person."

Sloane falls out of contract at the end of the year, but doesn't qualify for free agency like teammate Patrick Dangerfield. 

A rival's interest in a player of Sloane's quality would come as no surprise to anyone in the football world – least of all the Adelaide Crows.

On the eve of the season the 25-year-old hinted a renewed deal with the Crows was just around the corner. 

"I'm still really comfortable with where it's all sitting, (I am) still chatting with the club and you guys know better than anyone how I feel about Adelaide and the football club," Sloane said in March.

"That'll take care of itself pretty soon I'm sure."