According to Het Nieuwsblad, the Wanty team that has been created by current Vacansoleil sports director Hilaire van der Schueren is trying to sign Samuel Sanchez as leader of the team for the 2014 season. The Dutch manager is currently looking for sponsors and extra funding that would allow him to sign the unemployed Spanish star.

Following the demise of the Euskaltel team, star rider Samuel Sanchez still hasn't found a new team for the 2014 season. The Spaniard has repeatedly expressed his desire to continue his career but with no concrete offers on the table, an early retirement may be on the cards.

Now the new Dutch Wanty team which has been created by current Vacansoleil sports director Hilaire van der Schueren and is mostly made up of riders from Vacansoleil and Accent, has expressed interest in signing the Spaniard. According to Het Niuwsblad, van der Schueren is currently looking for funding and an additional sponsor that would make it possible to sign the former Olympic champion.

Sanchez hasn't had the best of seasons and had a disappointing performance in the Giro which was his first big season target. He bounced back with a stage win in the Criterium du Dauphiné and finished 8th in the Vuelta but his results are a far cry from his earlier exploits.

At the moment, van der Schueren has four open spots on his roster. If more funding is secured, he may also sign Belgian climber Kevin Seeldraeyers who has publicly expressed his frustration that he has been unable to find a new team for 2014.

Among the confirmed riders on the Wanty team are Bjorn Leukemans, Michel Kreder, Nico Sijmens and Frederique Roberts. Andy Capelle, Jempy Drucker, Grégory Habeaux, James Vanlandschoot, Thomas Degand, Jérôme Gilbert, Tim De Troyer, Roy Jans and Kevin Van Melsen will join the team from the current Accent squad, Mirko Selvaggi, Frederik Veuchelen and Wesley Kreder follow van der Schueren from Vacansoleil while Jérôme Baugnies and Laurens de Vreese complete the roster.