Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel says the west Walians have made strides to retaining players after several months of uncertainty.
The inability to offer contracts has hung over Welsh rugby, with players left uncertain over their futures for next season and beyond. However, with a standard contract model agreed on and a new financial deal signed off, the four Welsh sides are now able to offer deals to players.
That saw the Dragons become the first side since the contract freeze ended to sign deals with players for next season, announcing seven contract extensions last week.
And Peel says he hopes it won't be long until the Scarlets are in a similar position to keep hold of players, while hopefully bringing in some new faces too.
"We've made strides in that area," he said. "A bit of retention stuff that is almost done.
"A few players we're looking to add, with those talks ongoing. I'm hoping there'll be some announcements shortly."
One player linked with the Scarlets this week has been Bristol playmaker Ioan Lloyd. The Welsh-capped utility back has struggled for minutes at Ashton Gate this season due to injury, but is highly thought of by Bears coach Pat Lam.
Capped by Wayne Pivac in the autumn of 2020, he's not featured on the Test stage since - with concerns over his defence and being moved around the backline hardly helping. While Lam had earmarked him to play inside centre moving forward, a lot of his rugby has either come at fly-half or across the back-three.
However, his potential is clear to see, with Peel admitting that he's on their radar and would be a brilliant addition to the Scarlets.
"He's a player of high quality," he added. "I'm sure he'll have a lot of interest. We were linked with him early on in the week.
"We'll see how that one goes. Wherever he goes, or if he stays at Bristol, he's a high-quality player and is definitely one anyone would be interested in.
"He's very skillful player to start. From what we've watched on him, he's obviously very skillful and is able to break the line and take defenders on. He's still a young man so there's a lot of growth in him for sure."
Building up to their European Challenge Cup quarter-final against Clermont, which Peel described as an "exciting" challenge, the Scarlets coach remains hopeful that in-form fly-half Sam Costelow will be fit after picking up an injury in the Round of 16 victory over Brive.
The 22-year-old Wales international has been in fine form recently, starting the last six matches and being a big reason why the west Walians have started winning games regularly in recent months. However, a knock against Brive saw him forced off before half-time.
"I hope he will be (fit)," said Peel. "He just had a bit of a hit on the leg.
"He's not too bad. He's up and about so I'm sure he'll be fine."
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