ROB Baxter is set to sit down with Henry Slade soon to discuss whether the England outside centre will take up the second year of his current contract at Exeter Chiefs.

Slade signed a new deal with the Chiefs back in February, describing it at the time as “an easy decision” and saying he was delighted to continue calling Sandy Park home.

“To be able to run out at Sandy Park and continue to call this place home for a few more years is brilliant,” he said. “I feel very privileged and lucky to have played so many games for Chiefs and in front of such a great group of fans.”

However, the new agreement was structured on a one-plus-one basis, meaning Slade is contracted for the initial year with an option for a further season.

It is that second year which will now be discussed, with Baxter expecting talks to take place in around a month’s time, ahead of the deadline for the option to be activated.

“Henry isn't out of contract,” explained Baxter. “He’s got a one-plus-one, so we’ll start talking to him in a month or so’s time, before the deadline for year two comes into place, just to see what his plans are.”

The Chiefs boss is hopeful Slade will remain in Devon, but accepts there are a number of factors which could influence the decision.

Slade, who has made 268 appearances for the Chiefs, also spoke in February about the strength of the relationships he has built during his long career with the club and his excitement about the direction of the team.

“The squad of boys at this club, I’ve had a few across my time here, but the thing that hasn’t changed is that we’ve always been close off the pitch,” he said.

“Every group has been amazing in different ways, and I’ve got a lot of friends for life as a result. It makes it enjoyable, and you look forward to coming into training to see the boys.”

Slade also described the current Chiefs squad as “really exciting” and said he was looking forward to seeing what they could achieve in the future.

Those comments provide a clear indication of his commitment to Exeter at the time he signed the new deal, but Baxter accepts the situation could still develop in a number of ways.

“Who knows?” Baxter said when asked about Slade’s longer-term future. “There’s a variety of things. He’s got an enhanced England contract, he’s got a young family, he’s established here, he’s playing well and he’s got a good contract.

“There are reasons why he might take up the second year, and there might be another offer that is better. Some of that is out of my hands.”

Slade has also won 78 England caps and along with Olly Woodburn and Jack Yeandle are the last remaining players from the Chiefs side that completed a historic Premiership and Champions Cup double in 2020.

His future is also being discussed against the backdrop of new investment from Black Knight, with Baxter stressing that the club is not looking to radically overhaul its squad, but instead strengthen it gradually within the salary-cap framework.

“When you look through our side, we’ve got international front-row forwards, international second-row forwards, international back-row forwards, a starting international nine, a starting international 13 and a starting international wing.

“We’ve got some good players in there and, as much as I’d love to say they’re playing for Exeter peanuts, they’re certainly not.

“We’ve got a decent squad of good players, so being able to function year by year within the salary cap is how we’re really going to strengthen the squad over a number of seasons.

“It’s not just going to happen. It’s not going to be a Red Bull scenario where there’s a lot of change within one year. It’s going to be a process where we continue to make the team as strong as we can.”