WARRIORS director of rugby Alan Solomons has revealed he is “very close” to completing the current recruitment cycle which has been more about the retention of young players.

Warriors have made just one new signing over the last couple of months, 23-year-old Billy Searle from Wasps, but have tied 17 players to new contracts this season alone, including a large contingent of players under the age of 23.

Solomons said: “One of the important things for me is that all of our young players have been secured which is fantastic for us.

“Things like this are cyclical and as we can see from the people who have re-signed it has been much more about retaining what we have.

“I would hope to be complete by the middle or end of March but we are very close.”

Recent speculation has linked the likes of ex-Warriors Will Spencer and Matt Kvesic to Sixways but Solomons has kept quiet on that front and insisted that the focus has been on developing the players he has and building for the future.

According to The Rugby Paper, Spencer will be returning to his first club Bath.

Solomons said about the lock last month: “Will has not been signed by the club.

“He is a terrific bloke and a terrific player, I really enjoyed working with him but he has not been signed.

“We have some very good young locks coming through ­— Andrew Kitchener, Justin Clegg, James Scott ­— and we have Graham (Kitchener) and Bressy (Anton Bresler) both under contract.”

Solomons was recently asked whether Saracens’ relegation had affected the current market and whilst some players have become available he added that it had not altered his own planning.

He said: “It appears some players will be moving on from Saracens, others will stay in my view.

“A lot depends how far along clubs are in the recruitment and retention cycle as to whether they are in a position to take a player that may wish to leave Saracens.

“For the rest, I think everything remains the same. I have always worked to the rules and regulations on the salary cap and to the budget available, you just crack on with what you have.

“For me I don’t think there is any change in that regard."

Warriors have made just the one signing for next season, former Bristol fly-half Searle on a two-year deal, and Solomons reiterated he was a perfect fit for the current squad.

“Billy is an outstanding young English fly-half,” he added.

“I believe that he will play a huge role as we look to take the club forward.

“He has an excellent skillset, the ability to manage a game effectively and he kicks really well, both for goal and out of hand.

“He is also a first-class bloke and a good team man.

“I am really looking forward to working with Billy again.”