CARLTON is set to lure its first trade target of the off-season to Ikon Park, with classy midfielder Jack Martin poised to nominate the Blues as his club of choice.

Martin met with Carlton last week about the prospect of joining the club this October, having officially requested a trade away from Gold Coast last month.

The highly talented and versatile Martin had also met with the Western Bulldogs, while he had drawn interest from Fremantle in his home state of Western Australia.

Essendon had also been monitoring the 24-year-old after a strong pursuit of his signature last year.

But it's understood Carlton has taken the first step to securing Martin, with rival clubs this week being informed of his desire to play for the Blues in 2020 and beyond.

It marks the first of a number of moves Carlton is hopeful of making ahead of next month's Trade Period, with the club still determined to find a way of securing contracted Sydney forward Tom Papley.

The Blues are also eyeing potential reunions with former players Eddie Betts and Sam Jacobs, while they met with Tigers premiership player Dan Butler last week and have long courted Swans ruckman Darcy Cameron.

They have also shown interest in Power forward Sam Gray, who is determined to land a longer contract than the one-year deal he has been offered to remain at Alberton.

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Carlton currently has picks No.8, 39 and 44 in the upcoming NAB AFL Draft, while it is also able to trade its 2020 first-round pick in order to secure its raft of trade targets.

Martin, a highly rated junior prospect, played 97 games for Gold Coast after being recruited to the club in the 2012 'mini-draft'.

He has been used in a variety of positions across his six years in the senior system, but played mainly across half-forward and through the midfield with the Suns.

The smooth-moving onballer missed out on a place in the top 10 in Gold Coast's best and fairest last month, having been dropped late in the year after a season in which he averaged 18.1 disposals per game.