Sale Sharks ‘increasingly confident’ of signing Leicester talisman George Ford

Leicester Tigers fly-half George Ford is understood to be edging closer to a potential move to Premiership rivals Sale Sharks after the two parties entered negotiations for a deal.

Ford, 28, has played an instrumental role in taking coach Steve Borthwick's side to the top of the league, but his contract at Welford Road is set to expire at the end of this season.

It's believed the prospect of moving closer to his native Oldham would appeal to the player, who finds himself out of Eddie Jones ' England rotation despite his stellar form at club level of late.

In fact, The Telegraph reported Sale are "increasingly confident" they'll get a deal across the line, with director of rugby Alex Sanderson seeking a marquee signing at fly-half.

News of the escalated interest in Ford comes just after the Sharks confirmed six-season servant AJ Macginty will depart for Bristol Bears ahead of the 2022/23 season.

That move will free up significant space in Sale's salary budget, while it's also believed 2019 Rugby World Cup -winning lock Lood de Jager could be on his way back to South Africa with the Cell C Sharks.

The Telegraph described the prospect of returning to England's northwest as "a strong pull" for Ford, who left Bath in 2017 not long after his father vacated the head coach position.

Furthermore, there are those in charge at Sale who are said to be "long-time admirers" of the playmaker, whose displays en route to reviving the Tigers this term will have only earned further plaudits.

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Sanderson, 42, led the Sharks to the Premiership play-offs last season in what was his first campaign as a head coach, with the team currently three points off the top four this term.

Ford has looked revitalised after a summer free of Test rugby allowed him to address an Achilles injury, having since suggested he's got years left in the tank at the top level.

“As a 10 you have seen it many times before where the guys at the top of the game are coming to the best years of their careers in and around 30,” Ford said in early October.

“They have got that experience and learnt so many things along the way to be one of the world’s top-class 10s. I am excited about it.”

As fate would have it, Group B opponents Leicester and Sale will meet on Saturday in this season's Premiership Rugby Cup, with the Sharks being the current titleholders.

Ford is flying with the Tigers and 10 points clear at the Premiership summit as things stand, though the lure of a new renovation project closer to his Oldham roots could prove too tempting to turn down.

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