-
Sale Sharks are interested in speaking to Bath fly-half George Ford once the negotiation period opens in January
-
“We would be interested in anyone of George Ford’s ability,” said Director of Rugby Steve Diamond
-
England’s Ford has been linked with a move away since the end of the 2015-16 season
Sale Sharks are interested in speaking to England fly-half George Ford once the negotiation period opens in January, reveals director of rugby Steve Diamond.
“We would be interested in anyone of George Ford’s ability,” Diamond said.
He told BBC North West Tonight: “We’ve not had direct contact [with Bath or George] but when 1 January arrives and the transfer window opens we can start discussions if he fancies a chat.”
Danny Cipriani’s departure to Wasps at the end of 2015-16 left the Sharks with a gap at fly-half.
USA stand-off AJ MacGinty, who was signed from Connacht, and Dan Mugford, who joined from Championship club Nottingham, have both appeared in that position for Sale this season.
“Anyone who’s watched us this year knows there are two or three positions that we’re lacking,” Diamond added.
“We’ve got to go for world-class quality if we’re to take the club where we want to over the next three to five years.
“The days of us bargain basement shopping have not completely gone. The academy is going to be the foundation of building a club, but we’ve got to get back the mid-2000s era of buying high-quality players, bringing them in and supplementing with home-grown players.
“We need four or five world-class players, I think, to compete.”