Read our dose of all the latest Aviva Premiership transfer news and rumours from up and down the country.
George Ford Update
Sale Sharks are hoping to wrap up an agreement to sign England fly-half George Ford within the next two weeks.
The club were officially able to register an interest in signing the playmaker on January 1st and it’s understood discussions have already begun to take place.
Ford is likely to be offered close to £600,000 to return to his native North-West as he looks to end his stay at Bath one year early.
Sale chief Steve Diamond is also hoping to add Australia U20 scrum-half Ben Meehan and Tongan-born Japanese international No.8 Amanaki Mafi to his squad ahead of the 2017/18 season.
Owen Williams joining Gloucester
Jim Hamilton on The Rugby Pod`s live broadcast has stated Owen Williams has proposed move to Gloucester is very close to being confirmed. The deal is thought to be worth around £400,000 a year.
It is thought that the club are in talks with Williams, who is currently vying for the number 10 shirt with Billy Burn’s older brother Freddie at Leicester, and he would fit the bill.
There were reports in the French media that potential new Gloucester owner Mohed Altrad could try to persuade Johan Goosen to join the Cherry & Whites after he left Racing 92 and announced his retirement but that appears unlikely for now at least.
The Cherry & Whites are also locked in talks with All Blacks openside Matt Todd, who is thought to be a replacement for Matt Kvesic, who is out of contract at the end of the season.
The England flanker is thought to be a top target for Exeter Chiefs.
Bath interested in Finn Russell
With George Ford imminent departure for Sale, Todd Blackadder is already searching for a new playmaker and Finn Russell certainly would fill that gap.
The Scottish Daily Mail – or Scotsmail – believes the SRU has a fight on its hands to keep hold of Russell after a string of impressive performances for Glasgow Warriors in the Champions Cup.
The Mail suggests there is a four-way battle going on behind the scenes for Russell’s signature with Bath, Gloucester, Toulon and Montpellier all prepared to buy out the final year of his contract.