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George North will meet with the Scarlets this week to hold initial talks over what would be a remarkable return to Llanelli on a national dual contract.

In November it was confirmed North would leave Northampton Saints and move back to Wales at the end of the current season with his future region to be decided early in 2018.

Welsh Rugby Union rules dictate the Scarlets have first option on North as he is their former player and although head coach Wayne Pivac has previously said he's not in the market for a wing, it is understood the highly-rated boss has re-ignited his interest in the 25-year-old Wales ace.

It is also understood North's initial preference was a move to either the Ospreys or Cardiff Blues, but the options for the two-time British & Irish Lion have since been cut.

The Blues have ruled themselves out of contention, while the Ospreys are unsure over whether the 69-cap star is an attractive financial option.

Any deal to sign North would require a region to pay 40 per cent of his wages, a sum believed to be in the region of £150,000. The other 60 per cent would be funded by the WRU.

Liberty Stadium chiefs are of the opinion that given North's injury history and doubts over how many games he would play, that money would be better spent elsewhere.

(Image: Tom Martin/WALES NEWS SERVICE)

The Blues, meanwhile, are prioritising the signing of new tight five forwards.

It means the Scarlets have moved to step in. Discussions between the two parties are at an early stage and North is in no rush to make a final decision over his future.

But it remains a possibility the barnstorming back could return to his first professional club for the start of the 2018-19 campaign.

Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac said: “George has been a fantastic player and I believe there’s still a lot of good rugby in him. I think he’d go very, very well in this environment.

“If we had the funding and the luxury of signing George, I think this would be a great place for him to play his rugby.”

North left the Scarlets for Northampton in 2013 and is said to have been upset at being allegedly being put up for sale by the region without being informed.

It meant North was initially unwilling to consider returning, but with the Blues and Ospreys seemingly out of the equation, the player currently only has two choices on the table.

Bernard Jackman's Dragons remain hugely keen on North, but a move back to Llanelli would surely appeal given the team's recent performances.

The Scarlets remain in contention to reach the Champions Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2007 and are flying high in the Guinness PRO14.

Their enterprising 35-17 demolition of Bath on Friday showed that under Pivac, they are more than capable of challenging the best teams in European rugby.

Pivac has Leigh Halfpenny, Johnny McNicholl, Steffan Evans and Tom Prydie among his back three options, but North, when fit, remains one of the best wingers in the world.

North will miss the start of Wales' Six Nations campaign with a knee injury, but it's hoped he will return to action in time to feature at some point in the tournament.

“What we’ve got to be mindful of is the number of internationals we have,” said Pivac when questioned further on North.

“Last year we had a strong spine of the team when the internationals were away. We’ve taken Hadleigh Parkes out of that and one or two other players won’t be in that mix that were there last year. We’ve got to be very mindful of the balance within the group.”