Ospreys hope to hold on to Wales and Lions flanker Justin Tipuric

Justin Tipuric was a 2013 British and Irish Lion in Australia

Ospreys coach Steve Tandy says they are in contract talks with their Wales flanker Justin Tipuric.

The open-side's current deal expires at the end of the 2014-15 season and he has been linked with a possible move to English Premiership club Leicester.

"We are just ongoing, talking to Tips [Tipuric] and hopefully it will be resolved soon," said Tandy.

Ospreys recently signed Wales flanker Dan Lydiate on a dual contract with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

Tandy did not confirm whether Tipuric, 25, could also be secured on a joint deal with the WRU.

Lydiate was the second Wales and British and Irish Lion to sign such a contract, joining Tipuric's Wales open-side rival Sam Warburton - the national team captain - on a contract that limits players to 16 regional games per season.

The WRU provides around 60% of dual contracts with the regions paying the rest via a £3.3m fund that was agreed in August 2014.

Warburton hopes more leading Wales players sign dual deals in the wake of former Newport Gwent Dragons star Lydiate's move from French club Racing Metro to Liberty Stadium.

In November, it was announced that flanker Lydiate was among 12 players to be offered dual contracts by the WRU, but since then he is the only player to agree such a deal.

Dragons coach Lyn Jones also said Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau, utility back Hallam Amos and centre Tyler Morgan were offered dual deals.

Leicester fly-half Owen Williams has also been linked with a possible return to Scarlets on a joint WRU-regional contract.