Jamie Soward has been shopped to rival clubs in a move that clouds his future at Penrith.

Panthers supremo Phil Gould described Soward as a "marquee signing" when he signed Soward on a four-year deal that would keep him at the foot of the mountains until the end of 2017. However, Fairfax Media can reveal the 30-year-old is free to leave early in a move that would allow Matt Moylan to make a Darren Lockyer-style shift from fullback to five-eighth.

On the way out: Panthers five-eighth Jamie Soward. Credit:Getty Images

Soward enjoyed one of his most consistent seasons in his first year at Penrith, guiding the club to within one win of an unlikely grand final appearance. However, the former Blues representative was one of many Panthers to be plagued by injury in a disappointing 2015 that would have ended with a wooden spoon had they not defeated Newcastle in the final round.

Several clubs have been offered Soward's services, including the Warriors. However, the trans-Tasman club opted to instead sign Cronulla veteran Jeff Robson.