Manu could quit Tigers in pay row

MANU TUILAGI could be on the verge of an abrupt departure from Leicester as it is believed the England centre has not signed a new contract with the Tigers.

While fellow England stars George Ford and Ellis Genge have agreed last-minute deals to stay on reduced salaries, sources have indicated to Sportsmail that Tuilagi had not accepted the club’s revised terms by yesterday’s 5pm deadline.

In theory, it means that the 29- year- old and a number of others who have not accepted contracts will be ‘stood down’ and released, unless the Tigers hierarchy have a change of heart.

It is understood that the Tigers’ aggressive approach to recent negotiations with their squad has antagonised him and many team-mates. The rebels believe Leicester are in breach of contract, so they are free to leave and claim damages.

Tuilagi (below) is thought to earn around £500,000 a year as one of the leading Test players at Welford Road. The AngloSamoan centre was the subject of a lucrative offer from French side Racing 92 early last year before deciding to stay.

If he does have to move on, he may struggle to relocate within the Premiership as clubs are slashing budgets and preparing for a major reduction in the salary cap ahead of the 2021-22 season. There may be opportunities in France or Japan, but that would leave him unavailable for England, due to the RFU’s policy of not picking players based overseas. While Tuilagi’s position appears to be in the balance, fly-half Ford, 27, and prop Genge, 25, are staying having accepted reduced terms. Genge is set to remain at Leicester until 2023, adding an extra year from his previous deal, but has taken a 25 per cent drop in wages from the £400,000-a-year deal he signed at the turn of the year.

Ford’s pay — thought to be more than £650,000 a season — will also drop by a quarter.

Players were ordered to sign fresh contracts by June 18 so clubs could take advantage of a salary cap loophole that allows ‘existing’ deals to count for 75 per cent of their value in 2021.

Meanwhile, the Tigers and their Premiership rivals are set to be given the all-clear to resume full contact training from Monday as the next step in preparing for the season resumption on the weekend of August 14- 16. Details should be confirmed next week.