May 14th, 2019

May 14th, 2019

Clint Gutherson’s management is set to reject Parramatta’s Friday deadline to sign a new deal, effectively throwing the star utility onto the open market.

Negotiations between player and club have hit rock bottom, with the Eels telling Gutherson he has until the end of this week to sign a new deal.

But sources have told Wide World of Sports that Gutherson’s veteran manager Sam Ayoub won’t be intimidated by the Eels’ tactic and is set to reject the club’s move to get him to sign a new three-year deal at around $650,000-a-season.

Gutherson is holding out for a four-year deal on over $700,000-a-season.

Ayoub’s move puts Manly in the box seat to sign Gutherson.

The talented utility back is a Manly junior who began his career at the club before moving to Parra in 2016.

He is still close to many of the Manly players and his family lives on the northern beaches - and would love to see him back in the club’s colours.