Maro Itoje likely to remain with Saracens

England international Maro Itoje is likely to remain with Saracens next season despite their relegation to the second tier Championship.

The 25-year-old has been with Saracens since 2012 and has been an integral part of their success as they went on to win four domestic titles and three Champions Cup triumphs in the last five years.

However, with Saracens set to face automatic relegation at the end of the ongoing season for a series of salary cap breaches, Itoje was linked with a deal with French club Racing 92 but such a move might affect his chances of extending his England career.

"It's still to be confirmed but I'm 95 per cent sure where I will be," Itoje told the Political Thinking podcast last week.

Earlier, Itoje's England team-mates Jamie George, Elliot Daly and Billy Vunipola have committed to Saracens while Nick Isiekwe will join Northampton and Alex Lozowski will head to Montpellier on loan next season.

George Kruis and Ben Spencer have part ways with the club to join Panasonic Wild Knights and Bath respectively.

Itoje has played 38 Tests for England and three more for the British and Irish Lions that came during the 2017 tour of New Zealand. He was named among the top contenders to lead the Lions in the upcoming 2021 tour of South Africa by head coach Warren Gatland.