Charlie Hodgson is an influential member of the Sharks side © Getty Images

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News: Sheridan's French adventure still on

Players/Officials: Pete Anglesea | Charlie Hodgson | Andrew Sheridan

Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership

Teams: England | Sale Sharks | Saracens

Sale fly-half Charlie Hodgson is ready to listen to offers from Premiership clubs as he nears the Edgeley Park exit door.

The England No.10's contract with the Sharks expires in May and he is now free to talk clubs over a potential move. Hodgson will make his return from a foot injury on Sunday against Saracens and the London club are leading the charge for his signature. But Sale are determined to do all they can to prolong his 10-year stay at the club.

The 30-year-old says the prospect of Sale facing a relegation - they are currently 10th in the Aviva Premiership - will be a factor in his decision as will safeguarding the financial future of his family, but he indicated that a move to France is not on the cards.

"I have never been in this position before," he told the Express. "I've always had my next contract sorted long before I was allowed to speak to anyone else so this is very new to me.

"It is a different outlook now and I am quite excited by it. I'll see what the options are and go from there. It is a big decision and I'm not going to rule out moving. There is a part of me which thinks what if, and maybe if I wasn't to move, I would be left thinking at the end of my career, what would it have been like if I had?

"Finding somewhere else will be a tough decision because Sale is my club and they have always been good to me. Being involved in relegation battles doesn't appeal to me - that is definitely a factor. Life after rugby is a factor, too - in three or four years I will be thinking about retiring.

"I'll make the decision that is right for me as a player and also for my family. Initially, I toyed with the idea of going to France but my wife has just had a hip replacement and I want to stay in England for her sake."

Sale's disappointing start to the season led to the dismissal of head coach Mike Brewer before Christmas and his replacement Pete Anglesea fared no better as he oversaw the Sharks 54-21 defeat to Leicester on Monday.

The Sharks have won just three matches in the Premiership this season and the possibility, however remote, of Championship rugby next season could undermine their attempts to retain their top stars with England prop Andrew Sheridan is also attracting interest from clubs amid speculation that he could leave Edgeley Park in the summer as well.