The latest on Malakai Fekitoa's proposed move to France suggests that Top 14 giants Toulon have made an offer of a two-year contract.

A source told Midi Olympique that Toulon feel "relatively optimistic" about the move coming off, which would take the 24-year-old international from the Highlanders to the three-time European champions.

Fekitoa was not part of New Zealand's squad for the Test series against the British and Irish Lions, losing out to newcomer Ngani Laumape as well as Anton Lienert-Brown, Ryan Crotty and Sonny Bill Williams.

A Super Rugby winner with the Highlanders in 2015, Fekitoa played in his side's 25-24 win over the Lions in Dunedin this week.

Fekitoa's contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union expires at the end of 2017. His agent told the Otago Daily Times last week: "We need to take stock of everything at the moment.

"We do plan to catch up [with the NZRU]. He is disappointed but lots of guys are disappointed. [The Highlanders] is where he turned his career round. He came down and made the All Blacks from there and he was a good All Black."