With Newcastle writing cheques from the Red Bull bank accounts, the English transfer market is as buoyant as it has been since before the Covid lockdown.
The new ownership group in the North East are on a recruitment drive, pushing up the prices and leaving rival clubs with holes to plug.
Here, Daily Mail Sport rugby correspondent NIK SIMON reveals all the latest goings on…
Gloucester’s cherry-picked lock
World Cup-winning Springbok lock Jean Kleyn is set to be the next big arrival into English rugby.
The South African, who switched allegiance from Ireland, was part of Rassie Erasmus’ squad that lifted the William Webb Ellis Cup in 2023.
Gloucester have lost 26-year-old second row Cameron Jordan to Newcastle but Kleyn will boost the club’s lock stocks after agreeing a move from Munster.
Jean Kleyn, who has seven caps for the Springboks after switching allegiances from Ireland, is joining Gloucester from Munster
Kleyn, second right, was part of the 2023 World Cup-winning squad and leaves Munster after nine years in Ireland
Samoa international forward Theo McFarland will leave Saracens this summer to join La Rochelle in the Top 14
The Cherry and Whites also tried to sign Saracens flanker Theo McFarland – the Samoan visited the West Country to see the club’s facilities – but he is instead set to join La Rochelle.
The names of fellow Springboks Franco Mostert, Faf de Klerk and Jesse Kriel have also been sent around PREM clubs.
The tighthead market tightens up
According to Sale Sharks coach Alex Sanderson, tighthead props are the most precious commodity on the market.
‘Tighthead props are not easy to find – they’re like teddy bear s***,’ Sanderson told Daily Mail Sport. ‘There’s only a few world-class No 10s and fortunately one of them is here at Sale in George Ford. Big-hitting tighthead locks are also hard to come by too and that’s why so any clubs went after George Martin.
‘But the market is active. Newcastle Red Bulls have got a lot of money to spend but there’s a salary cap. We haven’t experienced too many bidding wars. We understand the market value and we tend to draw the line at that, or maybe go a little bit over…’
Daily Mail Sport understands Sale have landed a deal for Grand Slam-winning Welsh tighthead Tomas Francis. The 33-year-old has been playing in Provence but will return to the UK next season.
England tighthead Will Stuart is expected to sign a new contract at Bath, who are intent on retaining the Lions star after Thomas du Toit agreed a move back to South Africa. Former England prop Alec Hepburn is also on the market, but he is understood to be in line for a move from the Scarlets to Edinburgh.
Looking further afield, a pair of Georgian props are also close to moving to the PREM. Perpignan’s Giorgi Tetrashvili is in talks with Leicester to replace Nicky Smith, while Montpellier’s Nika Abuladze is looking at a return to Exeter.
Will Stuart, who was England’s breakout star of 2025, has signed a new deal with PREM champions Bath
Beefy Chiefs bulking up
As well as recruiting Abuladze, Exeter plan to beef up their team by signing beefy Bath centre Will Butt and 120kg Saracens forward Harry Wilson.
Butt should replace Newcastle-bound Will Rigg, although the high-flying Chiefs are yet to find a high-class replacement for fellow centre Len Ikitau. Wallaby Ikitau has helped turn around the club’s fortunes but will return to Australia at the end of the season.
Fellow Wallaby James O’Connor could also head Down Under if he does not sign an extension with Leicester… unless he receives an offer from – you guessed it – Newcastle! Recruitment at Kingston Park is well underway but they remain in the market for a statement No 10.
James O’Connor has struggled to make an impact at Leicester and is now being targeted by big-spending Newcastle Falcons
Carre and Langdon lead new deals
Saracens have agreed a contract extension for Wales prop Rhys Carre.
Carre is understood to be committing his future to the Saracens project despite receiving interest across the PREM.
The north London club are now turning their attention towards several other renewals, with Jamie George, Marco Riccioni, Alex Lozowski and Elliot Daly all out of contract.
Northampton are another club focusing on retention, with England hooker Curtis Langdon set to be the next player to commit his future to Franklin’s Gardens.
Saracens have locked up Rhys Carre, the Wales prop with 23 caps, to a new deal
Curtis Langdon has signed a new contract at Northampton Saints, having joined them from Montpellier in 2023
Dipping into tier two
CHAMP Rugby is also proving to be a hot market, with top clubs circling around talent at Ealing Trailfinders and Worcester Warriors.
Ealing full-back Toby Wilson is close to signing for Bristol, while Pat Lam’s recruitment team have also been looking at explosive Worcester back row Khalik Kareem. Kareem is also understood to be attracting interest from Sale.
And don’t forget the coaching carousel
The coaching market is heating up, too, with uncertainty at Gloucester and Harlequins sparking widespread negotiations.
Gloucester are looking at a management restructure to ease the pressure on director of rugby George Skivington.
Richard Cockerill, who coached Leicester to six consecutive finals, is one potential candidate to take up a role at Harlequins or Gloucester
Richard Cockerill, who coached Leicester to six consecutive finals, is one potential candidate for the club, while Bath’s head of recruitment Rob Burgess has also been identified for a potential management role.
Harlequins’ player recruitment has been limited while they figure out their management structure for next season.
Former players Mike Brown and Nick Easter have offered to help, while the CVs of Vern Cotter and Dave Rennie are also understood to be circulating.