De Klerk and O’Connor are done deals at Sale

BLINDSIDE understands that Sale Sharks have completed deals for Faf de Klerk and James O’Connor to move to the club next season.

We exclusively revealed last week that Sale were in talks for Lions scrumhalf de Klerk who recently lost his place in the Springboks training squad.

Sources have said that a deal has been agreed to release de Klerk from the last year of his contract and he will move on a three-year deal worth around £500,000 a season.

We broke the news a couple of weeks ago that Toulon star O’Connor was in talks with the Sharks about a switch to the north west.

O’Connor, 26, who can occupy any position across the backline, will be joining de Klerk at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Meanwhile the Sharks, who signed Jono Ross from Stade Francais as we predicted, are looking to strengthen their squad even further.

Albi’s Tongan international Dan Faleafa, who plays at lock and flanker, is the next player on Steve Diamond’s wanted list and they are working to finalise the deal.

New Zealand-born Faleafa, 26, started his career with Auckland and later played for Northland and Havelock Sports Club before moving to France.