It’s that time of year again! Teams will, of course, be focusing on their respective run-ins; but they might also be keeping one eye on possible recruits for next year.

Recruitment is a huge part of the modern game, and with the salary cap going back up to £6.4 million next year, teams might be tempted to splash the cash a bit more.

We’ve already seen Sale Sharks make a headline signing in the form of Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu, and Gloucester have also hit the market ahead of next year with Christian Wade and Gareth Anscombe penning deals to take them to Kingsholm; but who will be the next?

With this in mind, here is one signing each Premiership clubs need to make ahead of the 2024/2025 season:

One area each Premiership team needs to strengthen

Bath: Hooker

Bath are fairly set throughout the squad, but a new hooker to compete with Tom Dunn might be a clever piece of business from the West Country side. Dunn is an experienced hooker, and is having a fairly decent season, but the extra competition from a fresh face could allow him to recapture the form that earned him his England caps.

Bristol: Fly-half

With Callum Sheedy leaving for pastures new, Pat Lam needs to recruit a fly-half. The temptation might be to make a move for former Bear Ioan Lloyd, however with the 25-cap rule in place it might be hard to get him out of Wales. The Bears will need someone like Sheedy though, who can take the ball to the line and draw in defenders.

Exeter Chiefs: Fly-half

The Chiefs are in the midst of a rebuild, but a top quality fly-half could take them up a gear. Harvey Skinner has been solid for Exeter this season, but a top of the range 10 would give them a huge boost and increase the overall depth of the fly-half ranks at Sandy Park.

Gloucester: Second-row

The Cherry and Whites have already recruited where they needed some extra bodies with the additions of Gareth Anscombe and Christian Wade, but a proper workhorse second-row could be another shrewd signing as it would create some depth in their forwards.

Harlequins: Scrum-half

With Danny Care’s future in the air, it could be time to move for his replacement. Even if Care was to stay on next year, signing a new scrum-half would help ease the transition to a new face at scrum-half, which would help them hit the ground running the year after.

Leicester Tigers: Tighthead prop

Dan Cole is probably playing the best rugby of his career, but unfortunately the cult hero won’t last forever. You can never have too many front-row forwards anyway, but a new tighthead would again ease the transition after Cole’s retirement, and it would add competition for Joe Hayes too which could see him recapture his best form.

Northampton Saints: Flanker

The Saints will say goodbye to club heroes Courtney Lawes and Lewis Ludlam this summer, which creates a huge void in their back-row. They are lucky enough to have Tom Pearson, who can cover both sides, but another flanker is a must for Northampton to replace the outgoing duo.

Sale Sharks: Inside centre

Sale have already brought in a centre, but it’s the number 12 shirt that needs reinforcing at the Salford Community Stadium. Waisea Nayacalevu is an outstanding player, but he is an out-and-out 13, and with Manu Tuilagi leaving for pastures new there is a void at inside centre. The club have been linked with Mason Grady, who has shown himself to be more of a 12 now too, and this could be an excellent new addition.

Saracens: Fly-half

Owen Farrell’s departure to France means there will be a new man in the number 10 jersey at the StoneX next year. Manu Vunipola has been solid when given the chance to start, but if Saracens want to compete at the pinnacle of domestic rugby next season they will need to sign a world class fly-half. The club have been linked with a possible move for Paulo Garbisi too, who would make a great replacement for the former England skipper.

Newcastle Falcons: Flanker

The Falcons will have to prepare for life without Guy Pepper next year, and that means a new flanker is needed. Newcastle have had a tough time of it lately, but with the introduction of Steve Diamond it could be an easier sell to any possible transfer target; but it will be a hard task finding a like-for-like replacement for Pepper though.