Harlequins star Smith has entered the final two years of his contract, but will need a significant pay rise to join Owen Farrell in the list of the highest paid Premiership players
Marcus Smith is in talks with Quins over a bumper new contract
Negotiations remain ongoing between Harlequins and star playmaker Marcus Smith over a new mega-money contract as they look to keep their star man happy.
The England star will hope that such a deal will take him into the top 10 highest paid players in the Gallagher Premiership, with the 22-year-old currently outside of that list.
Smith has two and half years remaining on his current contract, which earns him wages of £460,000 per season, a figure that he wants to increase significantly with his new deal.
The lowest earner in the current top 10 earns half a million per season
Here, RUCK looks at the current 10 highest-paid Gallagher Premiership players according to Spotrac, as Smith looks to break in…
10th – Paddy Jackson (London Irish) – £500,000per season
Paddy Jackson of London Irish kicks for goal during the Gallagher Premiership match between London Irish and Newcastle Falcons at The Brentford Community Stadium, London on December 04 2021 (Photo: Danny Loo/PPAUK)
9th – Semi Radradra (Bristol Bears) – £521,000
Bristol Bears player Semi Radradra during the Gallagher Premiership rugby game between Leicester Tigers and Bristol Bears at Welford Road on June 5th - PHOTO: Steve Bond/PPAUK
8th –Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks) – £550,000
7th – Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs) – £550,000
Try Celebrations for Stuart Hogg of Exeter Chiefs during the European Rugby Champions Cup Match between Exeter Chiefs and Montpellier at Sandy Park on 11 December 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
6th – Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints) – £600,000
Dan Biggar of Northampton Saints kicks the penalty to take the lead during the European Champions Cup, Quarter-final match between Exeter Chiefs and Northampton Saints at Sandy Park on 20 Sept 2020. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK.
5th – George Ford (Leicester Tigers) – £650,000
Leicester Tigers player George Ford (c) during the Gallagher Premiership rugby game between Leicester Tigers and Bath Rugby at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Nov 5th - PHOTO: Steve Bond/PPAUK
4th – Steve Luatua (Bristol Bears) – £650,000
Steven Luatua, Captain of Bristol Bears during the warm up before the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Semi Final Match between Wasps and Bristol Bears at Ricoh Arena on 10 October. Photo: Steve Bond/PPAUK/Gallagher
3rd –Owen Farrell (Saracens) – £750,000
Owen Farrell (c) of the Saracens during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Bath Rugby and Saracens at the Recreation Ground on 17 Oct. Photo: Steve Haag/PPAUK
2nd – Maro Itoje (Saracens) – £850,000
Maro Itoje of the Saracens during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Bath Rugby and Saracens at the Recreation Ground on 17 Oct. Photo: Steve Haag/PPAUK
1st – Charles Piutau (Bristol Bears)– £1,000,000
Charles Piutau of Bristol Bears on the break during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Gloucester Rugby and Bristol Bears at Kingsholm Stadium on December 3 2021 in Gloucester, England. (Photo by Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)