Carle, 28, has been heavily linked with the club over the last few weeks with head coach Vitezslav Lavicka naming the Crystal Palace playmaker as his prime target ahead of the new season in August.

And with Carle controversially cut from the Socceroo squad based in Melbourne yesterday, speculation continues that the sky blues have secured the  former A-League player of the year's signature.

But FC officials insist that as of today there is no deal done - but that it's still "close".

If Carle signs, he'd join other new faces at the A-League champions including keeper Liam Reddy from Phoenix and Adelaide's left-sided defender Scott Jamieson.