Coming home ... Cronulla have told four or five Sharks they are free to test the market in a bid to lure Jesse Ramien back to the Shire.Credit:AAP
However,the deal is contingent on the club shedding players in order to free up the required funds.
Cronulla officials have already spoken with several player managers to gauge if there is any interest in their clients. They have met with Ramien about a black,white and sky blue homecoming,and will try to ramp up negotiations once the club bows out of the finals race.
Ramien was paid out for the remainder of the year by Newcastle,but Cronulla also know the youngster will want an answer sooner rather than later.
Matt Prior has already been linked to Parramatta despite the 251-game veteran prop still having another year to run on his deal. The Eels are also interested in Penrith's Reagan Campbell-Gillard,but given he is on huge money until the end of 2024,they are prepared to hold fire and wait to see what comes on to the market in the off-season.
Free to go ... Josh Dugan is one of several players told by Cronulla to test the market.Credit:AAP
Prior is on good enough money in 2020 that any early exit would go close to allowing Cronulla to accommodate Ramien.
Josh Dugan has already been identified as someone the Sharks are prepared to cut loose given he is the highest-paid player at the club on well north of $800,000 the next two years.