Crusaders are leading the chase for highly-rated Ballymena United midfielder Jude Winchester.
Sky Blues boss David Jeffrey conceded before the New Year that a number of clubs are keen on signing the 28-year-old whose contract expires in the summer.
Both Crusaders and Cliftonville were reportedly interested in the creative playmaker who joined Ballymena from the Reds in the summer of 2018.
But the Crues are thought to be at the front of the queue and are keen to get a deal across the line before the January window shuts.
Winchester, who featured for Ballymena in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Loughgall in the Irish Cup, has scored 14 goals in 104 appearances for the Sky Blues.
His last goal came in a 4-0 league win over Portadown on New Year’s Day.
The former Kilmarnock midfielder would be the second high-profile player to swap the Showgrounds for Seaview in recent times following striker Adam Lecky’s move to the Crues from Ballymena in October 2020.
Ballymena are next in action at Linfield in the league on Saturday, while Crusaders travel to Warrenpoint Town.
