Owen Farrell: Racing 92 coach Stuart Lancaster confirms interest in signing Saracens fly-half

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Owen Farrell has spent his entire career with Saracens after making his senior debut as a 17-year-old in 2008

Racing 92 head coach Stuart Lancaster has confirmed his interest in signing Saracens and England fly-half Owen Farrell for next season.

Last week the French club released a statement denying reports an agreement to sign the fly-half had been reached.

Farrell, 32, ruled himself out of this year's Six Nations to prioritise his and his family's mental wellbeing.

"He would be a great signing. Who wouldn't want a player like Owen Farrell?" Lancaster said.

"We'll see how it plays out. No deal has been done, there is no confirmation of anything for next year.

"It'll be me [who has the final say on signings]."

The 32-year-old started on Sunday in Saracens' 55-15 defeat by Bordeaux Begles, who are second in the Top 14 behind Racing.

Lancaster, who coached England from 2011-2015, gave Farrell his first of 112 caps, against Scotland in 2012.

"Racing are often linked with key players and I'm lucky my relationships with players from England and Ireland are all part of that, but we'll see," he said after his side's defeat by Bath in the Investec Champions Cup.

"I have signed for four years and what I'm trying to do is build a team that can win this year and a team that's going to be really competitive over the next couple of years as well."

Lancaster's side have been on the lookout for a star name at fly-half after Scotland's Finn Russell left to join Bath last summer.

He has already signed England wing Henry Arundell and South Africa's double World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi.

The former England coach, who enjoyed a successful spell at Leinster, joined Racing this season.