Sussex are in the running to sign the quickest bowler in England.

The club are understood to have made a significant offer to bring Tymal Mills to Hove after he turned down a new contract at Essex this week.

Lancashire are also interested in the 22-year-old but the chance to remain in the south and play division one cricket is likely to give Sussex the edge.

Coach Mark Robinson is keen to land the left-arm seamer with Chris Jordan expected to be unavailable for the majority of next season after winning a central contract with England.

Robinson worked with Mills on the England Lions tour to Sri Lanka in February and hopes to convince him a move to Hove can kick-start his career in the same way it did with Jordan.

Mills has been regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in county cricket since making his debut for Essex three years ago but has experienced problems with a back injury.

The former England under-19 bowler made just six appearances in the Championship last season with a modest return of just 13 wickets. Sussex have freed up some money for the potential arrival of Mills by releasing veteran seamer Jon Lewis who suffered an injury blighted season after arriving at Hove on a one-year deal last winter.

Yasir Arafat will also not be returning to Sussex next summer with Robinson admitting the county were not willing to match the terms he was offered at Hampshire.

Robinson said: “Jon was fantastic for us. He contributed to our early wins in the Championship and was a great influence in the dressing room.

“He has got some decisions to make about whether he retires or carries on playing but we wish him well for the future.

“We would have liked to have kept Yasir but probably not on the terms of contract or length he was offered elsewhere.”