The 20-year-old has been a free agent since refusing a contract with the Sky Bet League One outfit at the end of last season, and he has been training with Sunderland, Wolves and Bolton since.

His stint with the latter was the most recent and although manager Dougie Freedman claimed last month that a deal was dead in the water because of the Alex's valuation, recent reports have suggested a move could be revived.

The Alex are due compensation in any deal because of Clayton's age and manager Steve Davis has revealed they have done all they can from their end.

"It has moved a step closer with Max but nothing has been finalized yet and we'll have to wait and see," he said.

"It is a bit out of our hands and any decision rests with Max and his agent, but we have been as helpful as we can to him to come to a conclusion.

"Max needs to get his career up and running again but as a club we also had to receive some decent compensation for all the hard work the likes of Dario (Gradi, director of football) and the coaches have done here bringing him through the academy and into the professional game.

"He has had a tough couple of years with all the expectation on him and then the injury he suffered last year.

"He didn't have the impact he would have wanted in League One and we were disappointed that he didn't sign his contract with us because the club did everything they could to try and keep him.

"If it happens then it will be good for Max because he still has a lot of potential and needs to get his career going again."

Clayton has not played a competitive game since November because of an ankle injury, but he scored nine times in the 2012-13 season.