Sydney FC planning a raid on Wanderers' winger Youssouf Hersi for 2014 - The Daily Telegraph

Youssouf Hersi celebrates with fans after scoring a goal. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

Brisbane prepare to host the league-leading Wanderers at Suncorp Stadium in a top of the table clash.

SYDNEY FC are planning a cross-city raid to secure Wanderers winger Youssouf Hersi for next season.

The Ethiopian-born Dutch winger has been a revelation for Western Sydney and become one of the most exciting players in the competition with his dribbling and direct running.

Off contract at the end of the season, Hersi has publicly agitated for a new, extended deal, aware of Sydney FC's interest in bringing him to the Sky Blues next season.

Clubs have been permitted to talk to off-contract players at other clubs since November 1, and Hersi's name is one of those Sydney covet most on their target list.

Sydney FC CEO Tony Pignata declined to comment on any of his club's targets, but a number of coach Frank Farina's current right-wing options are off contract at the end of this season - including marquee star Brett Emerton, Yairo Yau and Richard Garcia.

The Wanderers insist they aren't looking at the ladder or listening to talk of a minor premiership battle, keeping their focus on this week's opposition in the Brisbane Roar.

Hersi's career had stalled due to a succession of knee injuries before he joined the start-up Wanderers, quickly becoming their key attacking weapon on their remarkable race to the Premier's Plate.

The bulk of Western Sydney's squad, like Hersi, are on one-year deals, coach Tony Popovic's preferred way of keeping his players motivated.

But Hersi, in negotiations with Western Sydney over a new deal, is unhappy at the prospect of signing another single-season contract, demanding the security of a longer-term deal.

There has been no signs of second season syndrome for Western Sydney with the Wanderers sitting pretty at the top of the A-League table.

It's understood that is one of the carrots Sydney FC are prepared to offer, along with a substantial pay package.

"A one-year contract, for me, is difficult because for yourself you want to give your club everything of course. But in the back of your head you are thinking, what are we going to do after this year?'' Hersi said last month.

However it hasn't gone unnoticed at Western Sydney that the club has won all three games since Hersi hurt a toe in the Sydney derby, with the 31-year-old again ruled out of tonight's trip to Brisbane despite training all week.

Hersi hinted at the interest from other clubs in making public his frustration, though it's believed his strong preference is to remain at Western Sydney where he has become a huge favourite among the supporters.

""It's hard when it seems like there's only a couple of months left this season," he said. "I am enjoying it. I don't know what to do.

"There's some interesting stuff coming up and we are going to see what we are going to do.''