Hampshire look set to have beaten off competition from several other counties to complete the signing of former Kent captain Sam Northeast.

The 28 year-old is expected to be announced as a Hampshire player at some point in the next week having been allowed to speak to other counties.

Having been stripped of the captaincy at Canterbury, with namesake, Sam Billings, taking the reins for 2018, Northeast decided his future lay elsewhere, despite still being under contract with Kent.

A number of clubs are believed to have been interested in signing the former skipper including the likes of Sussex, but the lure of batting at number four at the Ageas Bowl seems to have won Northeast over.

With his former Kent team-mates playing their One Day series in Antigua, Northeast has spent the past few weeks honing his skills at Canterbury Academy, away from the club.

The loss of Northeast along with fast bowler Matt Coles in these winter months leaves two gaping holes in the Kent side with fans now hoping they will be filled by some big name signings.