Collingwood star Dale Thomas is adamant his injured ankle will be a non-issue as rival AFL clubs try to recruit the All-Australian midfielder.

Thomas is about to become a free agent and Carlton lead several clubs who are keen to sign the 26-year-old.

There is speculation the Blues have prepared a monster $3.5 million offer over five years.

Ankle injuries restricted Thomas to only five games this season and if talks with the Magpies break down, he will undergo medical screening before another club recruits him.

He continues to have treatment at Collingwood and said he would start running again “in a week or so”.

“I presume, if I do have to talk to other clubs, if things don’t go great with our footy club … I presume I would have to sit through some sort of medical,” he told Nova 100.

“I’d be that confident to pass any sort of medical, so that’s not even an issue.

“But hopefully it doesn’t get to that.”

Collingwood’s upset elimination final loss to Port Adelaide meant Thomas’s negotiations with the club were now resuming in earnest.

“The talks became on-hold after I was making the comeback and now that the season is over and club doesn’t really have a great deal to worry about except trying to re-sign players, now it’s time for my management and the club to sit down and start talking,” he said.

Thomas is hopeful that defender Heath Shaw will stay at the Magpies.

The club delisted six players this week, including premiership stars Alan Didak and Darren Jolly.

Shaw’s blow-ups with opponent Angus Monfries last Saturday night also meant a renewed focus on his future at Collingwood.

Thomas disagreed with talk that Shaw’s team-mates are fed up with him.

“I’m certainly not (fed up) and I’m one of Heath’s best mates,” he said.

“The only thing Heath’s guilty of is caring too much.

“You’d rather have a bloke carrying on and caring and trying to instruct people and going over the top than just sitting there and watching it happen … and being part of a train wreck.

“I hope he’s not going anywhere.”