Sale Sharks fly-half set to replace Owen Farrell at Racing 92

revealed that Racing also considered ex-Ulster and Ireland international Paddy Jackson, but du Preez is now their top target.

Farrell, the former England captain, is heading to Saracens after a short stint in France, leaving the Top 14 giants short on fly-half options.

With Dan Lancaster off to Glasgow Warriors and Tristan Tedder joining Perpignan, Racing’s only recognised 10 is Antoine Gibert.

Du Preez, 31, could now become the second du Preez brother to depart Sale this summer. Jean-Luc du Preez has already signed with Bordeaux, and Rob may follow him to France as Racing rebuild following a disappointing 10th-place finish in the Top 14.

The club had initially targeted Wallabies veteran James O’Connor, but he opted for a move to Leicester Tigers instead. That snub has seen Racing turn their attention to du Preez, one of the Premiership’s most reliable performers.

Transfer insider Neil Fissler

Capped once by the Springboks in 2017, du Preez has been a standout at Sale and comes from a rich rugby pedigree.

His father, Robert, earned seven Springbok caps as a scrum-half in the early ’90s, while his younger twin brothers, Dan and Jean-Luc, were both part of South Africa’s 2014 Junior World Championship squad.