YORK City Knights try-machine Kriss Brining IS joining Salford Red Devils, The Press understands.

However, the move will not take place until the end of the season, leaving the hooker free to help in the Minster city side's promotion push from League One this year, even if it means the club miss out on a transfer fee.

The Press first reported over a month ago that a Super League club, thought to be Salford, had made an approach for the 22-year-old, with a "significant five-figure" sum being mooted. The Red Devils were also given permission to discuss personal terms with the player.

Speculation then seemed to die down, with the Scarborough-born ace continuing to play for James Ford's team.

But while neither York nor Salford have confirmed the move, it is believed a deal has now been thrashed out behind the scenes to take him to the AJ Bell Stadium, albeit not until 2017.

The fact that Brining is out of contract after this season means there will not be a fee involved. Head coach Ford offered no comment when asked.

Former scholarship starlet Brining became the Knights' then youngest-ever player when entering as a sub at Widnes in April 2011 aged 17 years five months and he became a regular towards the end of 2012 while still only 18.

He came into his own last year after the departure of number one hooker Jack Lee and bagged 23 tries in 19 appearances either side of injury.

So far this season he has scored 15 tries in 16 appearances in all competitions and is the joint-top scorer in League One alongside Kuni Minga of Toulouse with 13 from ten matches.

The fact that Brining is largely used as interchange hooker means his tries-per-minute ratio over the last two seasons is possibly the best across all three domestic professional rugby league tiers.

In total he has played 76 times for York, scoring 47 tries.

Brining rejected a move to Championship big-guns Featherstone Rovers at the start of this season, in what was deemed a major boost to the Knights' promotion aspirations, and went on to be The Press Player of the Month for April.

His departure at the end of the year, meanwhile, would be another commendation for the Knights' success in developing young talent, following Greg Minikin's move to Castleford at the end of last season.