Eight NRL clubs chasing exiled Penrith Panthers centre Michael Jennings but Phil Gould says Jennings will stay at club

EIGHT NRL clubs have secretly started negotiations to lure Michael Jennings away from Penrith, but Phil Gould says the flying centre will stay.

EIGHT NRL clubs have secretly started negotiations to lure exiled centre Michael Jennings away from Penrith - but Panthers football boss Phil Gould says he knows nothing about it.

Gould last night flatly denied the Panthers were shopping around the club's highest paid player as the rugby league rumour mill went into overdrive that both South Sydney and Canterbury were keen to snap up the out-of-favour NSW three-quarter.

"I hear the same rumours you hear, and I have heard nothing from his management or Michael," Gould said.

"Michael was here at the club (Sunday night). We had a big function and he was with the players celebrating their win.

"Neither Michael or his management have approached me for a release. Neither Michael or his management have said anything to me about these rumours.

"I don't take any stock in rumours, I don't worry about it, simple as that. The situation is he is contracted here for another three years.

"He is out suspended at the moment, his next game will probably be for NSW and then he is back here for us.

"I haven't had any indication from his management that they are looking to move him or from Michael that he is looking to move."

Asked if he wanted Jennings to stay at Penrith, Gould said: "That is up to Michael, it is really up to Michael whether he wants to be here. I mean, he was dropped three weeks ago and since then he hasn't been available for Penrith.

"He was with the Origin (side) and he got suspended out of Origin so he is not available for us until the Warriors Monday week. It is up to the coaches then whether they play him or what they do with him, I don't make those decisions."

The Daily Telegraph understands that six clubs have already contacted Jennings' management company with two more expected to show interest this week. Although Jennings is still a Panther, the rival clubs are positioning themselves should Penrith suddenly announce Jennings is a free agent.

Canterbury were revealed as one interested party over the weekend with Souths and St George Illawarra also mooted on social forums.

Clubs are privately determining exactly how much they could pay Penrith to buy out Jennings' contract. Penrith may agree to a deal of about $300,000 - money that would then free-up their salary cap.

The Panthers would though have to pay the remainder of Jennings' deal, an amount far less than the original $650,000.

But Gould was adamant no pay-out scenario was being talked about at Penrith. "We've got absolutely no plans to move Michael Jennings," he said.

"His position in the first-grade side is between him and the coach. The coach made a decision three weeks ago to drop him and he went back and played for Windsor. From there he was selected for NSW. He wasn't available for the Cowboys game because of rep duty, he wasn't available for the Manly game because he was suspended. We've got a bye next weekend, he then probably plays for NSW the following week, it will be a while before he is even available for us."

Follow @Telegraph_Sport on Twitter and like Telegraph Sport on Facebook