Richard Garcia ... lure of home may prove too much. Source: AAP
The lure of home may rob Melbourne Heart of their reigning best and fairest winner.
Perth Glory has written to Heart asking for permission to talk to Socceroo Richard Garcia, a request that has been granted.
Garcia signed a one-year deal with Heart last year but played in Melbourne while his family remained in Western Australia.
The 31-year-old attacker is currently in Perth and has not returned to pre-season training at Heat.
Heart football operations manager John Didulica said the club is still in negotiations with Garcia's management.
"We've had a lot of constructive discussion to try and work through how we can put a deal together,'' Didulica said.
"He's obviously from Perth originally ... we recognise that we need to put together a package that will entice him to bring his whole family over here.
"We're committed to trying to bring him here and we'll keep working at it. He's certainly someone we want to have at the club next season.''
To have both Garcia and Harry Kewell at his disposal in the front half would be ideal for Heart coach John Aloisi this season.
Didulica said he remained "quietly confident'' Garcia would remain at the club.
"I think Rich enjoyed his football with us last season, he's got a great relationship with John and Hayden (Foxe), so it's all very positive,'' he said.
"It's just about the normal back and forth you have with contract talks.
"The season is still three and a half months away, so I don't think it's a decision he wants to rush in to and certainly we don't want him to make a decision that he's not entirely comfortable with as well.''
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