Contracted Knights halfback Mitchell Pearce has reportedly been tabled a deal by French club Catalans that would dramatically boost his bottom line.

According to reports fromย The Daily Telegraph,ย the Dragons have offered the 32-year-old a three-year contract worth in the vicinity of $600,000 per year.

While the rich deal has been presented as a means for the recent Super League runners-up to cover the loss of Pearce's former Origin partner, James Maloney, a move away from the Hunter appears to be a difficult prospect.

As stated by journalist Dean Ritchie, Newcastle will only be willing to let the ex-Chook take flight if they can find a suitable replacement during the transfer period.

The Novocastrian club has also claimed Kalyn Ponga will eventually move into the halves, but as the shift upfield won't take place in 2022, the case for releasing Pearce has weakened further

TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 27: Kalyn Ponga and Mitchell Pearce of the Knights looks on during the round seven NRL match between the North Queensland Cowboys and the Newcastle Knights at QCB Stadium on June 27, 2020 in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Given Pearce remains contracted for another season, the potential to trade Merewether Beach for the white sands of Perpignan appears to be outside of his control.

Ritchie also suggested that while the Knights were aware of the prospect of losing the international representative, conversations between the two parties had not progressed beyond preliminary discussions.

Though a prospective jet north may be off the cards this season, rugby league immortal and Newcastle legend Andrew Johns held the view that should the Knights' impasse be removed, Pearce would do well to undertake a change of scenery.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 24: Mitchell Pearce of the Knights looks on after another Tigers try during the round 23 NRL match between the Wests Tigers and the Newcastle Knights at Campbelltown Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt Blyth/Getty Images)

 

โ€œI think thatโ€˜d be a great opportunity for him,โ€œ the champion halfback stated on Channel Nine.

โ€œSouth of France, anonymous, weekends off, fly into wherever - it takes you half an hour to an hour to fly all over Europe.

โ€œLess eyes on him, faster, more open game. I think if he decides to go, I think Catalans would be a great fit for him.โ€

Despite the fact that rumours of this mooted move have been circulating since late August of this year, if Pearce is held to the last year of his deal at McDonald-Jones Stadium, it is not yet known whether Catalans will come again for his services in 12-months time.