AFL journalist Damian Barrett believes Steven May's management has been talking to other clubs in Melbourne about his future.

The Suns' football manager Jon Haines stated that May was a "required player."

“Steven is our captain and is contracted for next year,” Haines said.

“He is a required player and we don’t see any reason as to why there would be any discussion in the short term around that.

“We are really keen to maintain Steve as a long term player of our football club and that’s where our intent will be.”

But on Thursday's AFL Footy Show, Barrett told a different side to the story.

“Gold Coast captain Steven May, despite that contract for 2019, he is no certainty to be there and we can tell you tonight that his management has in recent times been actively engaging in talks with Melbourne clubs about what happens with May next year,” Barrett said.

“It is significant. The club’s only had three captains in its short existence in the AFL and those other two captains, Gary Ablett and Tom Lynch, have walked out on the club.

“May clearly now engaged in conversations about his own future as early as next year, potentially to leave that club as well.”