RUMOUR: Saracens make shock swoop for former England and Harlequins star

The 36-year-old, who is still without a club after departing Newcastle in June, has so far struggled to find a new club and is considering retirement.

RUCK sources suggest the Quins legend is being considered by the men in black, who could be without their senior internationals for over 50% of the season.

However, the fullback who has a bar named after him at Twickenham Stoop, is keen to explore other options rather than join his local rivals.

Brown joined Newcastle last summer after he was released by Harlequins, the club he had spent all 16 years of his professional career representing.

"It is [an enormous shock], particularly when you have the plans in your head to stay," Brown said.

"This is not a 'poor me', but it's the side of professional sport a lot of people don't see. There was an hour in the car park [after speaking to Richards] sat on my own, but speaking about the group of players here, the amount of support from them was unbelievable. They were brilliant to me. 

"I'm very lucky that I still get to play and am still getting picked, so at least I can get out on the field and try and put my best foot forward and get a job."

Brown, who has already revealed he will pursue a career as an agent when he hangs up his boots, is being lined up as a potential replacement for Simon Hammersley at Sale after the fullback quit.

Alex Sanderson will offer Brown the opportunity to stay in the Premiership when it looked more than likely he’d be stepping down to the Championship.

The Rugby Paper reports that the 36-year-old is a top target for the ambitious Championship side.

Former teammate Ugo Monye believes that Worcester Warriors would be the perfect next club with Steve Diamond looking to stamp his flavour on the team at Sixways.

“I think Worcester would be a great fit for Browny (Mike Brown) with what Diamond is trying to build down there. That wouldn’t surprise me.”

A return to Harlequins has also been mooted, but ruck sources suggest that would be very unlikely.

There have been talks in France that Brown could join former Quins teammate Harry Sloan in France's second division.