Aviva Premiership
Ashton's Saints future in doubt
ESPNscrum Staff
December 11, 2011
Northampton's Chris Ashton sprints away for a try, Northampton Saints v Newcastle Falcons, Aviva Premiership, Franklin's Gardens, Northampton, England, October 29, 2011
Chris Ashton is in high demand © Getty Images
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Northampton head coach Jim Mallinder admits Chris Ashton could leave the club after the England winger was linked with a move to Saracens.

Ashton, 24, will be free to negotiate a move away from Franklin's Gardens in January with his contract set to expire at the end of the season. Reports suggest Saracens are set to launch a big-money bid for the player in the New Year.

The England winger is currently serving a four-week ban for pulling Alesana Tuilagi's hair during the Saints' Premiership clash with Leicester last weekend. He joined the Saints from Wigan in 2007 and is reportedly on a deal worth in the region of £180,000 per year with Saracens ready to offer in excess of £200,000 a year.

Mallinder tried to downplay the speculation but admitted Ashton's future could be away from Franklin's Gardens.

"You want to keep all your best players but if players want to leave that is up to them," Mallinder told the Mail on Sunday. "You'll have to ask Chris Ashton if he wants to leave.

"Contracts are up all the time for different players. You can't worry too much about that.

"Chris has to concentrate on his rugby, work hard on his fitness and his skills and hopefully in four weeks he'll come back and fight for his place in the team."

As well as a potential boost in income, a move to Saracens would also allow Ashton to link up with Joel Tomkins, a friend from his schooldays in Wigan, and Andy Farrell, who had a big influence on his early days in rugby league.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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