Specialized wants Peter Sagan at Etixx-Quick Step next year, but there's a problem

Specialized are unsurprisingly keen to keep world champion Peter Sagan on their bikes in 2017, but Etixx-Quick Step boss Patrick Lefevere insists it won't be with his team if the Slovak's salary demands are high.

According to HLN.be, founder of Specialized Mike Sinyard phoned Lefevere ahead of Paris-Roubaix to ask how he felt about Sagan's future.

The Tour of Flanders winner's Tinkoff team will fold at the end of the season if a new sponsor is not found, after owner Oleg Tinkov announced his intentions to withdraw from the sport.

"That's the only call I have had until now about Sagan," Lefevere told HLN, telling Sinyard that he didn't want to discuss the matter over the phone.

"Four million [euros] is twenty percent of the budget for my team and that for one rider..."

Sagan has also been linked with a move to Trek-Segafredo next season, who are on the search for a big name rider with Fabian Cancellara retiring at the end of the year.