South African team MTN Qhubeka are interested in signing Mark Cavendish.
The British rider is out of contract in January with Etixx Quick Step and a number of teams have shown an interest including MtN Qhubeka, who are expected to announce Dimension Data as their title sponsors.
However, currently, MTN Qhubeka do not have the funds to sign Cavendish and their team manager Brian Smith told Cyclingnews.com: We simply don't have the money. I told them to go out and find another sponsor, we're open to another naming rights sponsor.
"I like Mark and I think Mark, like Tyler and other guys, can ride differently. Mark maybe isn't the fastest guy any more with these new guys coming through. I'd like to try and reinvent him and look at different ways. Who is coming with him I don't know, do we have the money I don't know.
"He's a great ambassador and Qhubeka would love him. He will open the door to more PR and bigger PR, more respect in the peloton. There's a lot of things that we can get from him. I don't think anyone in the team has to worry about their place in the team. Is it a win-win situation? I think it is."
Cavendish is not the only option the team have and Smith added: "First and foremost we want to develop the African talent," said Smith. "We don't want to take on riders just because of who they are on the bike, it's about who they are as individuals. If someone comes to our team they have to fit into our culture. They have to speak English and be a nice guy, be willing to do some PR stuff that is all important for us. There are a bunch of climbers I'd like to consider but the net's closing because they have to sign and if we haven't offered any contracts to anyone then we have to wait until next week until our budget is confirmed and then we will see what is left. It's not going to be the same as last year. I still think there are two or three good signings left out there that haven't been signed by WorldTour teams."