With Wednesday's 7.30pm deadline looming, the Bombers remain adamant Merrett's wish of a move to Hawthorn will not happen.
Similarly, the Blues are yet to be enticed by Geelong or Sydney, who have conducted medicals with Curnow.
Essendon and Carlton have not budged for the past week over the two stars.
That means the offers will most likely need to be sweetened with high draft picks, on-traded from other clubs.
Christian Petracca's wish to join Gold Coast looks more likely, given the Suns have picks seven and eight as they try to strike a deal with Melbourne for the Norm Smith Medallist.
The Bombers were blindsided a month ago with the revelation Merrett had met with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell.
Merrett's acceptance speech for a sixth club best-and-fairest award earlier this month sounded a lot like a farewell.
But he is yet to officially ask for a trade to the Hawks and a deal would reportedly need the approval of the Essendon board.
Geelong are Curnow's preferred destination and they tabled their round-one draft picks for this year and the next two as they try to recruit the key forward.
The Blues have countered by noting that, given the Cats are coming off a grand final appearance and are likely to stay in premiership contention, those picks will be well outside the top 10.
Curnow has four years left on his current contract and the Blues also have been adamant their preference is for him to stay.
It remains unclear whether any Sydney players want to be part of a deal that would send them to the Blues, who have overhauled their football department after dropping out of the top eight this season.
Petracca's teammate Clayton Oliver, another key member of the midfield when Melbourne won their drought-breaking 2021 premiership, has met with GWS after being told by the Demons to look for a trade.
Rowan Marshall wants to join Geelong, but St Kilda have made it clear they intend to keep him.
Adelaide are also at impasse with Brisbane over two-time Lions premiership utility Callum Ah Chee.
GWS defender Leek Aleer has been a hard luck story of the trade period. He was said to be shattered when the Saints, one of the most active clubs in trade deals, decided against recruiting him.
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