England in battle to hold onto star Tuilagi
MANU TUILAGI has been told he could earn upwards of €850,000 a year if he sacrificed his England career and moved to Japan.
The centre is looking for a new club after failing to agree cut-price terms with Leicester. Sale are reportedly among the Premiership clubs chasing his signature, however a move to Asia is the most lucrative option for the 29-year-old.
‘Most Japanese clubs have already filled up their playing roster for next season, but the top earners are getting a million euro a year,’ said a source in Japan. ‘Manu wouldn’t be far off that. He could get at least 850,000 euro.’
France is also an option for Tuilagi, but that would also rule him out of future England callups. Wealthy Montpellier owner Mohed Altrad yesterday told
Sportsmail: ‘We wouldn’t sign him for this season – it is closed – but maybe the season after. Why not? I’m not saying “Yes” but I’m not saying “No”.
‘It depends on his commitments to the England team. Somebody contacted me about him last year. The calculations show that he would be away for half of the season so it doesn’t work as an investment. It’s a big move for him to stop playing for his country.’
It is understood Sale made contact with Tuilagi over a deal to sign the England centre.
The Sharks sit second in the English Premiership and recruiting Tuilagi would provide a considerable boost to their title challenge. Tuilagi is one of five frontline stars leaving the club on Tuesday, following a clutch of contract stand-offs, including Ireland international and ex-Leinster centre Noel Reid.
Leicester chief executive Andrea Pinchen claimed Tuilagi, Telusa Veainu, Greg Bateman, Reid and Kyle Eastmond had refused to accept 25 per cent pay cuts for one year, with the Tigers battling both the coronavirus fallout and future salary cap reductions.
Meanwhile, Adam Jones is a main target for new Ospreys head coach Toby Booth who wants to bring the legendary former Wales prop back to the Liberty Stadium as part of his backroom team. Booth wants Jones to fulfil a similar role in south Wales to the one he does at Harlequins by working on the his former club’s scrum.