England's Manu Tuilagi close to new Leicester Tigers deal

Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill has confirmed that Manu Tuilagi is on the verge of signing a new contract with the club.

Recent reports had linked the 24-year-old with a switch to Saracens.

However, Cockerill has insisted that the centre will soon commit his future to Welford Road.

"We want to keep him and he wants to stay so I am pretty sure that we will end up with a deal at some point. We have gone a long way down negotiating that contract," he told BBC Sport.

Tuilagi was expected to be part of the England squad for the upcoming World Cup, but he has been ruled out of the tournament with a groin injury.