>> Lozowski in hot demand
SARACENS are planning more talks with England squad man Alex Lozowski in a bid to keep him at the club when his contract runs out in the summer.
Fly-half Lozowski, 24, who won two England caps on the successful summer tour of Argentina, has rejected the European champions’ first offer of a new deal. Blindside understands that the former Wasps man felt he was not being offered enough of a pay rise so turned them down, but Sarries are going to come again. The news that he rejected a new deal has alerted a number of clubs, but suggestions in the media this week that he is on the verge of joining Exeter Chiefs are untrue.
The Premiership champions, like every other club in the league, have to wait until January 1 to open talks with a player who is coming off contract.
And even though players are being hawked around by agents they still have to wait to give any deal the green light or risk the wrath of Twickenham bosses.
A source in the Saracens dressing room has told us that Lozowski, who was signed from Wasps two years ago, wants to remain with the club for next season and that the suggested interest from the Chiefs and his former club Wasps could just be a way of getting Saracens to increase their contract offer.
“It is still up in the air at the moment. He has told team mates that he wants to stay, but terms haven’t yet been agreed,” our source said.