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Vultures start circling as Glory wind down

Perth Glory are facing a raid on their squad after accepting their finals ban for salary cap breaches, with at least three first-choice players on the radar of rival clubs.

Players’ union Professional Footballers Australia confirmed it was ready to provide advice to Glory players on a case-by-case basis over their right to pursue a potential termination of contract linked to the club’s breach of the A-League cap by $400,000 this season.

And The West Australian understands the club’s competitors are preparing to pounce, with contracted trio Danny Vukovic, Josh Risdon and Dino Djulbic all set to be approached about switching clubs.

Central Coast Mariners are among three clubs looking for an experienced goalkeeper.

Vukovic, who started his career with the Mariners, holds the record for A-League appearances with 226 matches.

The keeper is understood to have been particularly vocal at a crisis team meeting held at the club last Monday.

The 30-year-old has been an integral part of Glory’s form on the pitch this season that has the club third on the ladder ahead of their demotion to seventh this weekend.

Risdon, 22, was considered for Socceroos selection leading into the AFC Asian Cup and would be hot property if he explored a break of contract, while Djulbic penned a two-year deal in February until the end of the 2016-17 season.

Last Sunday’s hat-trick hero Jamie Maclaren is contracted for next season and will assess his future after Saturday’s final away clash against Western Sydney Wanderers.

Striker Andy Keogh is tipped to remain at Perth given his strong family connections in WA. But defensive midfielder Rostyn Griffiths is coming out of contract and is believed to have made his mind up to leave Glory at the end of the season.

PFA chief executive Adam Vivian said Glory players had not been implicated in FFA’s salary cap investigation.

“The players expect the salary cap to be complied with and to be well governed,” he said.