Parramatta will table Clint Gutherson a make-or-break contract
Parramatta are set to off skipper Clint Gutherson a new deal that will either keep him at the club for the next three seasons or force him to test the open market.
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Parramatta are set to table the make-or-break deal that will determine the fate of Clint Gutherson.
The Sunday Telegraph can reveal the Eels will on Monday table the revised and upgraded offer that will either end the Gutherson contract circus or force the club captain to hit the open market.
It’s understood Gutherson will remain an Eel if the new offer is worth at least $750,000 a year.
The fullback will begin talks with rival clubs should he be offered anything less.
“The ball is in their court,’’ said Gutherson’s manager Sam Ayoub.
“We are not in a hurry and it is all up to them right now. We are waiting on Parramatta. We are expecting a new offer to come in and hopefully it reflects is worth as both a player and a leader. I spoke to Mark O’Neill and he said he would send something over early in the week.’’
Gutherson headlines a long list of off-contract stars at Parramatta.
Described as the heart and soul of the club, Gutherson has already rejected a series of offers from the Eels.
Originally offering the No.1 a two-year deal for $450,000 a season, the Eels recently upped the ante to more than $1.5 million over three years.
Despite rejecting the offers, Gutherson has not officially placed himself on the open market with the Manly junior giving the Eels every chance to get the deal done.
That, however, will change this week if the Eels fail to up his offer by at least $200,000 a season.
The Sunday Telegraph understands a rival club has already indicated they would be prepared to offer Gutherson $1.5 million over two years to make the switch.
Gutherson has remained tight lipped since rejecting the Eels first offer with the flyer doing his talking through his football.
Following the Eels’ flogging of the Tigers at Bankwest Stadium, Gutherson leads the NRL in line-break assists and only trails Luke Keary and Michael Morgan for try assists.
Originally published as Parramatta will table Clint Gutherson a make-or-break contract