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Sam Davies and Owen Williams have emerged as early transfer targets for the Scarlets as the men from Llanelli look for potential new playmaker options for next season.

Head coach Wayne Pivac is looking for fly-half cover at the region for Rhys Patchell with both Dan Jones and Angus O’Brien struggling to convince.

Pivac will leave Parc y Scarlets to succeed Warren Gatland as Wales head coach for next season, but he is still playing a role in looking at new signings the 2019-20 campaign.

Wales internationals Davies and Williams are both options being considered.

Ospreys pivot Davies is out of contract at the end of the season, but Williams still has two years left on his deal with Gallagher Premiership outfit Gloucester.

Despite this potential stumbling block, it is understood the Cherry & Whites would consider releasing Williams.

You can read about his demise over the past year, here.

Williams started Wales’ Tests with Australia and New Zealand last November, but he has since fallen out of favour both at Kingsholm and at international level and is paid in the region of £400,000-a-year by Gloucester.

The 26-year-old began his career at the Scarlets before joining Leicester.

He scored 629 points in four seasons, but could yet return to his home region having rejected the Dragons last summer.

Ospreys star Davies – like Williams a full Wales international – is another player the Scarlets are considering, but it is understood they face competition from the Dragons.

Former Junior World Player of the Year Davies, 25, is also attracting the interest of a host of English clubs.

Both Davies and Williams are currently out of favour with Wales head coach Warren Gatland and won’t feature in next month’s autumn Tests.

Davies’ last cap came against Samoa in June 2017, while Williams last wore the red of his country against New Zealand on November 25.

The two talented players may see transfers to new clubs as a way of reviving their Wales careers, but it’s unlikely the Scarlets would sign both men.

“Sam needs to keep playing for the Ospreys,” said Wales attack coach Rob Howley this week when asked for his assessment of the player’s form this term.

“Over the last couple of weeks he’s certainly improved his performances. I’ve spoke to both Allen Clarke and Matt Sherratt on Sam’s performances and Shaun Edwards who is coaching there too.

“At the moment we’ve got a lot of strength in depth in the outside-half position. If we included Sam and not Jarrod Evans in our squad (Evans will train with the squad as cover for Rhys Patchell), then people would be asking why we hadn’t selected Jarrod.”