Maro Itoje© Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Saracens will not be rushing to sign a marquee player ahead of next season, according to director of rugby Mark McCall.

Saracens fell in the semi-finals of the Champions Cup to Clermont Auvergne on Saturday. Last year it was the finals where they finally came undone but despite falling short of winning the European title that continues to elude them, McCall will not be panic-buying and will instead focus on developing their younger players.

"No, we will not be signing a marquee player for next season," McCall said. "We know where we think we can improve our side but we are prepared to wait for the right person to make that happen. You have got to be very careful who you spend that kind of money on. You have to be sure that the person has the right ambition and hunger to come to this club.

"Some clubs splash out on players who get more than they deserve and that can make certain players ungettable. Of course you are always looking to add something. I think you are always looking for something to add, and we have got to keep an eye on our back-line, but our pack is developing just nicely and is going to be a force to be reckoned with for years to come."

Maro Itoje made his first European start against Clermont on Saturday with academy graduates Jamie George and George Kruis also in the XV. They were joined by young England players Mako Vunipola and brother Billy and it this group that McCall wants to focus on.

"The fact Clermont and Toulon always seem to be in semi-finals or finals gives you an indication that they're pretty powerful," Saracens rugby director Mark McCall said. "But if someone ever took the time to go through our squad properly and understand where they've come from and where they are now, you can develop your own and make players better.

"We believe that we do that, and that we give ourselves a chance in these competitions because of that. The fact that our pack is as young as it is, it's incredibly exciting for us to think that they could be the mainstay of the club for hopefully the next four or five seasons."