Parramatta remain confident of retaining young gun Dylan Brown despite speculation the five-eighth is currently meeting with rival NRL clubs.
Brown is among a handful of players currently in discussions with the club on possible extensions, including hooker Reed Mahoney.
Veteran centre Michael Jennings is also expected to sign on a one-year deal, including a player option for a second, when he returns from leave.
However Brown is considered the top priority for club management, who have already tabled the 19-year-old with a multi-year deal.
The negotiations are the first real test for new chief executive Jim Sarantinos, who was promoted from chief operating officer earlier this month.
Already the Eels have been criticised for letting highly-rated youngster Stefano Utoikaman sign with Wests Tigers on a three-year deal beginning in 2021.
Utoikaman is understood to have asked for a release from the final year of his current contract, which the Eels denied.
Sarantinos is optimistic of ensuring other young talent won't be lured away.
(Dylan's) obviously a high priority for the club, but guys like Dylan and Reed and all our strong young talent, they're a part of our future," Sarantinos told AAP.
The promise that Brown displayed last season should hold plenty of appeal for a number of clubs that could be in the hunt for a playmaker in 2021.
The likes of Cronulla, Canterbury, Gold Coast, Newcastle, the Warriors and Wests Tigers could all be in contention for the Auckland-born product.
Brown drew plenty of headlines ahead of his NRL debut when he was offered a mammoth six-year deal by the Warriors earlier this year.
Replies
Not another bloody Dyan Brown blog.bring back Hayne so we have something else to talk about.
Eggy, best way is to ignore them. I do that with more than one.
Just kidding. It's the offseason , I'll read anything about the eels to get me thru.I stare at that countdown clock for hours waiting for 2020 to kick off.
I feel the same mate . I am very confident of our success next year . Only serious injuries can keep us out of the grand final .
With the news that the tigs have pulled the pin on going for Mitchel and will focuse on going for Ado-Carr, who I doubt will come cheap, I did read an article that says they are likely needing to shed players, which could cause some problems there. If there is any truth to that need, then I have a gut feeling they may not really want Stefano next season as the money may be tight,
I also have mixed feelings still in regards to letting him go or force him to stay, which possibly depends much on the action that was in the media that the eels were taking a case to the NRL that the attempt to sign him before Nov 1 and the result of what comes out of it. That action while justified is something I don't especially like but what affect will it have on the other players both here and elsewhere?
I said previously that if we let him go then we get the money that was to cover him for next year to use to sign others, while the idea of forcing him to stay and not release him may also be an option but will he be another Tepai for the year?
Do they all have the same manager
A lot of factors on our side to retain Brown.
Andrew Johns here is a big one in my eyes.
Playing at the best rugby league venue every other week is another plus.
Parras player welfare looking after the young fulla big plus.
Definitely Tad !!! Only better money offered elsewhere would delay their decision .
Yep! the Sivo - Sivo chant was tops Tad, imagine the Dylan - Dylan chant also becoming a part of the game as well.
I have said elsewhere that I believe Joey is the key to getting both him and Mahoney signed, when Joey agrees its a likely certainty.
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