Wales head coach Warren Gatland has assured Toby Faletau that his international career will not be in jeopardy if he joins Bath after the World Cup.

As revealed by Sportsmail in March, the Lions No 8 is top of Bath’s summer shopping list and Gatland confirmed that a substantial offer has been made for the 24-year-old.

Any move will need to be signed off by the Welsh Rugby Union and the Regions, but Gatland suggested that he will not stand in Faletau’s way if he seeks an early release from his Dragons contract.

Warren Gatland claims Taulupe Faletau would not be hampered by home-based player rules if he went to Bath

Faletau has a year left on his Newport Gwent Dragons contract but Aviva Premiership club Bath are interested

‘We’re in discussions with the Dragons, the Regions and Bath,’ said Gatland. ‘Toby is probably the person with the biggest decision to make. A club has offered a significant transfer fee and his Region will look at that as a business decision, because they’re struggling financially.

‘If Toby goes, he will be protected – he will have full release to play for Wales, otherwise why would we release him? He has given some excellent service to the Dragons and maybe it’s a good challenge for him. I’m going to talk to Toby and his father about it.’

With Faletau turning down a national dual contract earlier this year, Bath could use compensation from a collapsed deal for Australia scrum-half Will Genia to fund the move across the Severn Bridge.

Wales No 10 Rhys Priestland has already agreed a deal with the West Country club, while Lions stars Jamie Roberts, George North and Richard Hibbard are among other exiles in the Aviva Premiership.

Anton Bresler tackles Faletau during the European Rugby Challenge Cup semi final match at Murrayfield

Gatland has been trying to tighten restrictions on players moving overseas, but there is little hope of another region competing with Bath’s offer in terms of money and playing standards.

The Kiwi also revealed that North is back in training after suffering a concussion in March, while tight-prop Samson Lee is targeting a comeback in the second warm-up Test against Ireland after rupturing his Achilles during the Six Nations.

But winger Liam Williams could miss the World Cup following surgery on a foot injury on Wednesday. Asked when the 24-year-old will be available, Gatland said: ‘How long is a piece of string? He could be out for 10 weeks, but it might not be right. We’ll have to make a call and see how he recovers.’

Liam Williams faces a fight to be fit for the World Cup after being sidelined for at least 10 weeks with foot injury

Williams had surgery on Wednesday and has already been ruled out of the two World Cup warm-up games

Wales face training camps in Switzerland, Poland and Qatar and – following England’s disciplinary problems with Manu Tuilagi and Danny Cipriani – Gatland said he will take similar action to Stuart Lancaster if his own players step out of line.