Simon Zebo’s move to Toulouse is just speculation, insists Brian Walsh

Munster insist they know nothing about a proposed move by Simon Zebo to Toulouse but assistant coach Brian Walsh said it is inevitable players coming out of contract will be linked to clubs in France and England.

But Walsh said Munster are very keen to retain Zebo and all their other stars as they try build a side which will capture silverware.

Walsh, though, conceded the suggestion of a move by Zebo to Toulouse could be the first of many speculative link as a host of Munster players come up for contract negotiation. The next few weeks and months will be busy for Munster management and officials as they bid to hold on to the likes of Conor Murray, Keith Earls, Tommy O’Donnell, James Cronin and CJ Stander, all of whom are out of contract like Zebo next summer.

“My view on it is any high-profile players are going to be linked with clubs. It’s just the way the game has gone. It is almost like deadline day with soccer,” said Walsh.

“There is a lot more exposure for these players, there is a lot more interest and all good sides are anxious to have good players and high-profile players.

It wouldn’t surprise me if there is interest in Simon from around the place, but how hard that interest is or how interested he is I don’t know.”

The post-World Cup stage was always going to stir up transfer moves as players look to the future and prepare for the next tournament in Japan in 2019.

Walsh, who is on a career break from banking, said player movement and speculation about contracts is just a fundamental part of the modern, professional game.

“The dynamic has changed over the last number of years and it’s now a constant round of players and contracts. Obviously there are guys on central contracts, there are guys who deal with us and agents are out there trying to get the best deals they can for their players. That’s the commercial aspect of the game that comes from professionalism and I think we’re very keen all those players will stay here.

“We’re trying to build what is a new squad in terms of going to compete for trophies over the next few years,” he added.

The primary focus for Walsh and Munster this week is Saturday’s trip to Edinburgh where they will be bidding to maintain their fine start to the season which has yielded five wins from six games.

And with Zebo and Donnacha Ryan having featured in the 32-28 win over Ulster at the weekend, Munster’s other two World Cup players, Earls and Murray, are expected to be back for the trip to Scotland this weekend.

Walsh said they had a relatively clean bill of health as they prepare for the clash with Tyler Bleyendaal remaining a concern with a quad issue.

“Obviously we are keen to get him back, but, at the same time, we want to clear that up so it doesn’t cause any problems later on,” said Walsh.

Recent new signings, Uruguayan prop Mario Sagario, an unused replacement in the win over Ulster, and former Ulster backrower Sean Doyle, trained with the squad in Cork yesterday. The third player drafted in to cover for the injuries to Peter O’Mahony, Tommy O’Donnell, Stephen Archer and Felix Jones, was expected to arrive yesterday with Argentine full-back Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino set to link up with his new teammates after helping the Pumas finish fourth in the World Cup. Sagario, Doyle and Amorosino have all been signed on three-month deals.