Team Sky leader Chris Froome has confirmed that he is poised to sign a new contract with the British team before the start of the Tour de France.

A news report in French newspaper L’Equipe on Thursday linked Froome with a move to BMC, where his former team-mate Richie Porte is currently the Tour de France captain.

>>> ‘It’s a complete lie’: BMC slam Chris Froome transfer story

However, those reports were denounced by both BMC and Sky with the BMC general manager Jim Ochowicz branding the story “a complete lie”.

On Friday morning Froome, who’s contract with Sky is not due to run out until the end of 2018, confirmed he was in negotiation with the team over an extension.

“We’re in talks and hopefully we’ll have that sorted out by the start of the Tour [de France],” he said.

Despite the fact the Sky leader signed his current extension only last January the team are clearly keen to keep the three-time Tour de France winner on the books and are happy to extend his contract a year earlier than might be expected.

Sky principal Dave Brailsford has previously said he thinks Froome could go on to join the likes of Miguel Indurain, Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx and Jacques Anquetil on five Tour de France wins.

“Why not?” he told the Guardian last January. “You cant’ say that he can’t. There is no guarantee that he will but equally you can’t say he can’t and as a team we are always going to try and perform in the Tour.”