Team Sky have been quiet in the transfer market in 2016, losing Nico Roche to BMC and having Xabi Zandio retire at the end of the season. Leopold Konig and Andy Fenn also look likely to leave. Sergio Henao is poised to sign a new deal, as is Salvatore Puccio.

One rider who looks on his way to Sky is Etixx-QuickStep’s Lukasz Wisniowski, according to his agent Giuseppe Acquadro.

"He’s close to going there and I've told Patrick Lefevere. I've been in contact with Sky and we're working on a contract," Wisniowski’s agent, Giuseppe Acquadro told Cyclingnews.

Patrick Lefevere, the Etixx manager, says he has already offered and agreed a deal with the Pole, but Acquadro denied this.

Lefevere confirmed he has texted Dave Brailsford (Sky’s manager) to discuss Wisniowski’s future.