Gloucester boss George Skivington has admitted Santiago Carreras has become “very expensive” as he battles to keep the Pumas outside half at the club, with arch-rivals Bath amongst those showing interest in taking him away from Kingsholm.
Carreras, who has been playing full-back at Gloucester this season with Wales’s Gareth Anscombe at No.10, is hot property, and Skivington can take some comfort from the fact he is largely responsible for making the Pumas back the target of rival clubs.
Skivington confirmed that Carreras’s contract is up at the end of this season. Having scored eight tries in 53 appearances for his country, the 26-year-old has seen his salary and worth rise in recent seasons. Skivington, who is preparing his team to face Leicester at home on Saturday, said:
“Santi’s contract is up and there is a lot of interest in him. Most clubs would be very happy to have him, and we will see how that unfolds.
“He has been here for a number of years, and I signed him when he was a young kid and relatively unheard of, and we looked after him. He is one of ours now. I have a good rapport and there is no cloak and—just good conversations. Without a doubt, a number of clubs are interested in him, and it is in Santi’s court. He is valuable and pretty expensive. We helped develop his game, and the challenge comes when someone gets to a certain point, and they get very expensive, and that is the nature of the beast.”
At the weekend, Leicester lost 80-12 in France against Toulouse in the Investec Champions Cup, while Gloucester, with a young side, were beaten 55-17 in Bayonne in the Challenge Cup. Skivington expects a backlash from Tigers on Saturday, adding:
“It is difficult to swallow, and you cannot brush off any defeat, and they are proud men. We have to be realistic about Toulouse, who are on another level – so good – and you watch in awe.
“I expect Leicester to be fired up with this being the Slater Cup and the last Premiership game for a while.”
