TROUBLED Essendon midfielder Andrew Lovett could be headed north after the Bomber flew to Sydney yesterday to meet senior club figures about a shift to the Swans.

Lovett remains contracted to Essendon for next year, but the club privately late in the season informed him they would seek to trade him at season's end. At the time, coach Matthew Knights said no definitive decision had been made on his future and that it would be reviewed at season's end.

The player had wanted to remain at Essendon, and may yet if a trade cannot be done, but that would appear unlikely as the club is anxious to move him on and there is no shortage of clubs pursuing him. Essendon is believed to favour a quality draft pick in a trade. It is understood Lovett flew to Sydney yesterday and met with senior players as well as coach Paul Roos and club officials.

Fremantle and the Brisbane Lions are also understood to have interest in the super-fast midfielder as they seek to inject pace into their onball divisions.

St Kilda, which is likewise keen to inject more speed into its side, is not pursuing Lovett.

The Bombers had expressed interest in Saint Nick Dal Santo's situation, but were repeatedly told by the Saints that Dal Santo — or Justin Koschitzke — was not on the trade table.

A deal with the Saints would also be complicated by the fact the Essendon midfielder was involved in an ugly incident in a match earlier this year when he was sledged by Saints' captain Nick Riewoldt about a domestic violence issue.

Lovett has been plagued by discipline and other issues at Essendon and ultimately exhausted the club's patience. A change of environment was considered by player and club to be preferable.

Lovett, 25, has played 66 games and should be coming into his footballing prime. A match-winner with an electrifying burst of speed, he won the Anzac Medal in 2005 after just a handful of games.

But he has battled throughout to maintain consistency in performance and preparation. He was twice this season suspended by the Bombers for missing training sessions.

While Ryan O'Keefe is considering a move to Melbourne, Essendon is understood not to have held talks with the Swan star as yet.

Lovett's possible interest in moving north might give the Bombers cause to approach the Swan to form part of a possible trade.