After 168 days of negotiations Parramatta and Clint Gutherson are still far from agreement

The 168-day negotiations over Parramatta star Clint Gutherson continued without a resolution after Eels general manager of football Mark O’Neill met with the full-back’s agent, Sam Ayoub.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 22: Clint Gutherson of the Eels makes a break during the round 6 NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and Wests Tigers at Bankwest Stadium on April 22, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt Blyth/Getty Images)

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The 168-day negotiations over Parramatta star Clint Gutherson continued without a resolution after Eels general manager of football Mark O’Neill met with the full-back’s agent, Sam Ayoub.

The Daily Telegraph spotted the pair at Munoushee Concord, a Lebanese cafe on Majors Bay Road, almost six months after Ayoub first tabled Gutherson’s terms to Parramatta on November 23, 2018.

Dozens of meetings, phone calls and emails have since failed to nail down a deal.

There was some hope this meeting could signal the beginning of the end of protracted negotiations between the two parties.

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Neither side, though, has set a deadline despite Ayoub being ready to consider offers from rival clubs.

Both Ayoub and the Eels want to complete a deal, although they are still some way apart on both the amount of the deal and its duration.

Gutherson is seeking between $700,000-$750,000 a season over four years, while Parramatta have stuck solid on a three-season deal worth $650,000 annually.

There are no immediate plans for another meeting between O’Neill and Ayoub.

Gutherson will head to Brisbane on Friday with the Eels for their Magic Round clash with Melbourne at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

Gutherson is in top form. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images.

The contract saga hasn’t affected Gutherson’s form after he put in a man-of-the-match performance in last weekend’s comeback win over St George Illawarra.

Manly coach Des Hasler has denied he is chasing Gutherson although the Sea Eagles speculation refuses to totally subside.

There are other clubs interested, some even discussing the prospect of manoeuvring their salary cap to possibly accommodate Gutherson.

The Daily Telegraph reached out to Ayoub yesterday but he refused to comment.

Parramatta are confident halfback Mitchell Moses will re-sign with the club, while coach Brad Arthur is yet to lock down a deal beyond this season.

Originally published as After 168 days of negotiations Parramatta and Clint Gutherson are still far from agreement