Munster assistant coach Brian Walsh said it is inevitable that any of their star players coming out of contract will be linked to moves to other clubs.
Walsh conceded that speculation this week linking Simon Zebo with a move to France will probably be the first of many such episodes in the coming weeks and months as Munster try to tie down a string of key players whose contracts end next June.
The likes of Conor Murray, Keith Earls, Tommy O'Donnell, James Cronin and CJ Stander are all due at the negotiating table, ensuring a particularly busy period on and off the park for Anthony Foley's men.
Walsh said that Munster are very keen to keep on to Zebo and all their other stars as they try to build a side which will capture silverware. “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, they bring people in to watch the games.
“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 primary focus for Walsh and Munster this week is Saturday’s trip to Edinburgh where they will be bidding to maintain their impressive 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.
Bleyendaal concern
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 injury.
“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 Seán Doyle, trained with the squad in Cork on Tuesday.
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 to the end of January.
