England superstar Maro Itoje is reportedly demanding a huge pay increase from Saracens to re-sign with the club.
Reports in France suggest Itoje will want to overtake Owen Farrell as the clubs highest-paid player, however, to stay at the club beyond the 2022/23 season.
Currently earning in the region of £750,000 per season, he is looking to earn closer to £1m per season.
The four-time Premiership winner and three-time European champion’s international CV also makes for impressive reading.
‘The Pearl’ guided England U20 to their second-ever World Rugby Championship title before gaining a full cap in the 2016 Six Nations where Eddie Jones’ side were crowned Grand Slam champions, and he now has over 50 caps for his country.
He made three Test starts on England’s victorious summer tour of Australia and another Six Nations gong before becoming a British & Irish Lion in 2017 and 2021 featuring in all three tests on both tours.
SARACENS FIVE CURRENT HIGHEST-PAID PLAYERS (REPORTED)
#5. Elliot Daly - £480,000
Elliot Daly of Saracens kicks the conversion during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Saracens and Gloucester Rugby at Stonex Stadium on 24 September. Photo: Frankie OKeeffe/PPAUK
#4. Mako Vunipola - £500,000
Vunipola’s explosive carrying, stable scrummaging and fly-half-esque play in the loose has led him to be just as important for England as well as Sarries, with 70 caps for his country. The loosehead made his international bow in 2012 and has since won back-to-back Six Nations titles.
His high-level performances have seen him represent the British & Irish Lions on three tours (Australia 2013, New Zealand 2017, South Africa 2021).
Mako comes from a rich vein of rugby talent. His father and uncle played for Tonga while cousin Taulupe Faletau has been capped by Wales and British & Irish Lions. Brother Billy is a Saracens and England teammate and younger cousin Manu made his senior Sarries debut in the 2018/19 campaign.
Mako Vunipola of Saracens looks dejected after losing during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final Match between Leicester Tigers and Saracens at Twickenham Stadium on 18 June 2022. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
#3. Billy Vunipola - £520,000
A growing influence year on year, the England international eclipsed 150 matches for the Men in Black in 2022 and has become an integral part of the Sarries squad.
#1. Owen Farrell - £820,000
Since firmly establishing himself as one of the leading lights in the professional game, Farrell has amassed over 200 appearances for Saracens, over 90 caps for England and he has also been selected for three consecutive British and Irish Lions tours in 2013, 2017 and 2021.
He has since gone on to captain his country and led them all the way to the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final in Japan.
Farrell’s stellar career thus far has seen him various individual accolades, including 2017 EPCR European Player of the Year after the club’s memorable win over Clermont Auvergne in Edinburgh.
Owen Farrell of Saracens during the Heineken Champions Cup match between Saracens and Racing 92 at Allianz Park, Hendon, London on the 19th January 2020 | Photo: James Fearn/PPAUK.
