Ian McGeechan says negotiations over outstanding contracts at London Wasps are progressing well and the club's director of rugby hopes to ­expand the first-XV squad despite a mooted reduction in the salary cap of Premiership clubs.

Danny Cipriani and James Haskell, along with fellow England internationals Tom Rees, Riki Flutey and Dave Walder, are among those at Adams Park who are yet to finalise their contracts. Speaking today, however, McGeechan seemed comfortable with the situation after almost half a season of speculation that Wasps' big names could be leaving to take up more lucrative offers from other clubs.

"The contract negotiations are ahead of where we have been and are progressing well," he said. "I will tell you who has signed when they sign."

McGeechan said that the club wants to strengthen and deepen the first-team squad and is looking "internally and externally" to do so. As the Six Nations approaches McGeechan and the Wasps coach, Shaun Edwards, will have a much depleted squad to choose from in the Guinness Premiership, which is something the reigning champions would like to avoid in future.

"Our biggest issue is we have to make a mark with eight or nine players involved with England," said McGeechan. "It's a very difficult thing for us to try and assess."

McGeechan, who will lead this year's Lions tour of South Africa, is hopeful a proposed reduction in the salary cap from £4m to £3.5m will not impede him increasing the Wasps squad to 38, and may even open opportunities as "players will be freed up at other clubs".

One of last summer's additions, Serge Betsen, the French flanker who joined from Biarritz, is making a real impression on the Wasps set-up. "Within the club he is respected and since he's really come in and been part of the first team he has been phenomenal," said McGeechan.

"He is probably the most popular member of the squad," added Edwards. "His English is coming on and he is teaching me a word of French every day."