MEN Sport's rugby transfer round-up on Monday, January 3.
Where Next For Watson, Cipriani and Bath?
Bath's on-field woes look set to hamper their squad with big names set to leave amid the club's disastrous 10-game winless start to the Premiership season.
Taulupe Faletau has already left for Cardiff and The Telegraph are reporting that Anthony Watson has "made up his mind" that he will leave with the 27-year-old having spent the last eight years at the club.
A complication could be the British and Irish Lion's ACL injury suffered against Saracens in October, this could rule him out until the summer, meaning any move would be punctuated by the injury.
Likely suitors look in short supply as the Premiership's big-hitters look unlikely to be able to fit any marquee signings into their squads following the reduction in the salary cap.
Leicester Tigers, Saracens and Exeter Chiefs would ordinarily be in contention to sign the winger but those three all have concerns regarding the new regulations which were implemented in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.
One potential location would be Watson's former club, London Irish, who now play in the stylish Brentford Community Stadium.
The Exiles may still not be able to match the salary required of one of the world's best wingers and it has been rumoured that the French Top 14 could be a potential option, with no such salary regulations in place.
However, this would put the man who started the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final's England career on ice, as Eddie Jones can only pick players operating within England.
Fellow England international Danny Cipriani is also being linked with a move away from Bath, with the Rugby Paper speculating that Springbok fly-half Curwin Bosch could be joining the club.
Cipriani, 34, hasn't made the impact he would have hoped for at the Rec following the emergence of Orlando Bailey at fly-half and will be looking make a positive move.
With big names looking to leave the West Country side, one incoming signing is that of Russian international prop Valery Morozov.
The 27-year-old arrives from CSKA Moscow, having previously played in England with Sale Sharks and also making four appearances in the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Rumour: George Kruis in shock move to Chiefs?
Former British and Irish Lion George Kruis looks to be making a move back to England following 18 months with Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan.
He and Sarries teammate Alex Goode both left for Japan in the wake of the salary cap scandal which saw the club relegated. Goode has now returned to North London but there doesn't appear to be space for Kruis, 31.
Sarries are looking to youth with Harlequins youngster Hugh Tizard being touted as a potential signing, according to the Daily Mail, leaving Kruis looking to a different club to reignite his England career.
One potential destination could be Exeter Chiefs with Jonny Hill and Sam Skinner having left the club amid further salary cap concerns.
It would be a shock move for the 45-cap England international as Chiefs have had a fiery rivalry with Saracens in the past, particularly in the wake of the salary cap scandal of 2019.
Confirmed: Hogg to stay in Devon
In a festive boost for Exeter, Scotland and Lions star Stuart Hogg has confirmed that he will be staying with the club for the remainder of his contract following rumours he may be leaving following the new salary cap regulations.
The Scotland captain released a statement via the Chiefs' official website stating: "Further to recent speculation about my future, I'm happy to say that I will be honouring my contract at Exeter Chiefs and I am massively excited about the future. My family and I are very settled and I'm keen to win more titles here."
