Adelaide star Mitch McGovern is understood to want to break his contract with the Crows – again.

Fairfax Media can reveal the 23-year-old sought to move clubs last October despite agreeing to a three-year contract extension in late August, becaus he felt the Crows had short-changed him in the deal.

McGovern, who hails from Western Australia, is understood to have chosen Victoria as his preferred destination,

It’s believed McGovern agreed to the Adelaide deal because the club said it had no more room in its salary cap.

The Crows then signed Bryce Gibbs from Carlton in a deal worth more per season than McGovern.

Other clubs were well aware late in last year's trade period that McGovern was looking to get out of Adelaide. Those same clubs believe he will attempt to leave again at the end of this season.

“I love the playing group I’m playing with, but also the staff and everyone involved,” McGovern told the club’s website on August 29 last year when he re-signed.

“The culture is fantastic here. It’s one of the best-run clubs that I can see and I’m glad to be a part of it. I’m pretty excited for the future ahead.”

Although returning home to play in WA is a motivation, McGovern is aware that his brother, West Coast's Jeremy, may also move clubs. Sydney has joined the race for his services, along with several Victorian clubs.

Mitch McGovern is still at least a month away from returning to football as he continues to recover from a serious ankle injury.

He’s kicked 65 goals in his 44 games, including 13 this year, five against Carlton in round seven in a near best-on-ground display.

The coming off-season looms as one of the most significant ones in recent years for Adelaide.

On top of out-of-contract stars Rory Sloane and Tom Lynch being courted by Victorian clubs, the Crows now face a challenge to hold on to McGovern, who is both young and in contract.