Sydney premiership star Ryan O'Keefe remains undecided about his AFL future, despite Carlton indicating they are unlikely to be able to recruit him.

The Swans are still awaiting word from the 27-year-old forward on whether he now wants to stay after he last week indicated his desire to be traded to a Melbourne club.

"We're keen for him to stay and we hope he will," Swans coach Paul Roos said.

But he admitted he was unsure of what O'Keefe's intentions were or whether the Blues were definitely out of the picture.

Carlton expressed interest in picking up O'Keefe after the Swans failed to reach terms with interested clubs over a trade deal for him during last week's exchange period.

O'Keefe had also indicated a desire to join the Blues.

But chief executive Greg Swann said the Blues did not believe they could work out a way to have O'Keefe fall through to their No.6 selection in December's pre-season draft.

"We can't see how O'Keefe would still be available at selection six," Swann said.

Essendon, who have the No.5 selection, are now the most likely destination should O'Keefe leave Sydney.

The Bombers said they had been in discussions with his manager but remained undecided whether they would use that pick to recruit him.

"We haven't ruled it in or out, no decision's been made," an Essendon spokesman said.

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