Aberdeen out-of-contract midfielder Ethan Ross is the subject of an ambitious bid by Queen's Park.
The Scottish League One leaders want to sign the young playmaker, who left the Dons in the summer.
The Spiders are set for talks to see if a deal can be agreed over training compensation.
Aberdeen are due a six-figure fee because he came through their academy and turned down an extension.
It remains to be seen if an agreement can be reached between the two clubs
Queen’s Park have made it clear that they will invest in the right players, especially if there is a future value there.
The 20-year-old left Pittodrie in the summer.
Ross had been on trial at Southampton and a number of other top English clubs but Covid restrictions and outbreaks hampered his chances of playing as a trialist and winning a deal, with compensation an added complication.
The youngster, who has had loan spells at Raith Rovers and Dunfermline, still has a number of English options open to him but has decided to return to Scotland to get his career back on track.
The door remains open for Ross to return to Aberdeen but that still looks unlikely.
