Saracens departures: Leavers, loaners and stayers

Departures from troubled Premiership side Saracens are likely to start coming thick and fast as the future of many of their players starts to become clearer over the coming weeks.

The flooding of the market with Saracens players means that this season’s negotiations between clubs, players and player agents more fraught than would normally be the case, tipping negotiating power towards purse-string-holders at those Premiership sides’ looking for new additions.

Added to this, Saracens are eager for players to move on one-year loan deals and not to leave the club on a more permanent basis. Many contracts are yet to run their course, while others will also have a relegation clause allowing players to jump ship following the drop.

On a positive note for Saracens the club have been buoyed by news last week that England stars Elliot Daly and Jamie George will be staying, adding two to a significant cohort of big-name players who won’t be leaving the North London outfit.

That list includes their biggest players with Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje, Mako and Billy Vunipola and Alex Goode all expected to stay at the club for their drop to the IPA Greene King Championship.

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Others are looking to the exit at Allianz Park.

Reports suggest Ben Earl and Max Malins will be loaned out to Bristol Bears for the year in moves that will see them return to Saracens in the 2021/22 season.

Meanwhile England hooker Jack Singleton is a target of a one-year loan deal for Leicester Tigers, although Gloucester Rugby are also in the hunt for the young frontrower.

You may never have heard of it, but SLAR is potentially a hotbed of player recruitment for professional clubs in Europe.

– explains @alexshawsport 👨‍💻#SLAR https://t.co/zjgwtNgb82

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 26, 2020

Ben Spencer is set for a permanent move to Bath, while Alex Lozowski has been linked to both Bath and Sale Sharks. Bath’s capture of exciting utility back Cameron Redpath from Sale Sharks suggests Lozowski may be headed north instead of west.

Joel Kpoku has signed for Northampton Saints, but RugbyPass understands Saracens are eager for him to back out of that deal and stay with the club.

Here’s our changing list of stayers, loaners, likely leavers and confirmed leavers. UPDATED: 20.34pm/26/02/2020

STAYERS

Owen Farrell
Maro Itoje
Elliot Daly
Jamie George
Billy Vunipola
Mako Vunipola
Jackson Wray
Brad Barritt
Alex Goode
Alex Lewington
Ali Crossdale

LOANERS

Ben Earl (Bristol Bears)
Max Malins (Bristol Bears)
Jack Singleton (Gloucester Rugby/Leicester Tigers)

LIKELY LEAVERS

George Kruis (Japan)
Rhys Carré (PRO14)
Richard Wigglesworth (Sale/Ealing)
Ben Spencer (Bath)
Nick Isekwe (Gloucester/Sale)
Alex Lozowski (Bath/Sale)
Vincent Koch (Sale/Super Rugby/France)
Nick Tompkins (PRO14)
Will Skelton (Super Rugby, France)
Joel Kpoku (Northampton Saints)
Titi Lamositele (Montpellier)
Michael Rhodes
Juan Figallo
Callum Clark
Sean Maitland
Duncan Taylor

CONFIRMED LEAVERS

Joe Gray (Harlequins until end of season)
Liam Williams (Scarlets)
Matt Gallagher (Munster)