Northampton Saints looks set to make a statement signing ahead of next season, targeting a French international, according to reports.
With Fin Smith becoming a regular in the England squad, the Premiership club looks set to provide the young ace more competition at club level while also adding cover for when he is rested and unavailable.
Saints swoop for unwanted fly-half
And in doing so, they have reportedly turned their attentions to Clermont pivot Anthony Belleau.
The 29-year-old’s contract with the Top 14 club expires at the end of the season and according to French publication L’Equipe, he is in talks over a one-year deal with the Premiership outfit.
Belleau has been capped 12 times for France previously but has fallen out of favour with the international side, last representing Les Blues during the 2019 Six Nations, failing to earn a cap for the national team under Fabien Galthie.
He has been made surplus to requirements with Clermont signing All Blacks and Blues playmaker Harry Plummer ahead of the 2025/26 season.
The fly-half would be the second international to join Saints ahead of next season, following the announcement that Italian prop Danilo Fischetti had signed for Northampton from Zebre.
The club are set to lose winger Tom Seabrook, prop Tarek Haffar and flanker Reuben Logan at the end of the season, as well as number Juarno Augustus, who has signed for Ulster.
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More fly-half movement
While Belleau has played almost exclusively at fly-half for Clermont this season, he has featured at full-back and centre previously for Toulon and could provide further utility value to the Saints’ backline.
Additionally, Midi Olympique states that “no French clubs” are interested in Belleau’s services, with Bayonne not expressing interest despite the pending retirement of Camille Lopez.
Instead, Bayonne are looking to the Premiership for his replacement, lining up a move for Gloucester and Wales fly-half Gareth Anscombe, who has been pivotal to the Cherry and Whites’ success this season.
If not Anscombe, then the club are understood to have Italian international Tommaso Allan in their sights.
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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/saints-make-shock-swoop-for-french-fly-half-while-gareth-anscombe-attracts-top-14-interest
