Turner believes Sweeney is waiting for offers from other clubs

Wales international Sweeney, 26, is out of contract in May, and has been linked with a move away from Rodney Parade.

Turner told BBC Wales Sport: "We've made him an offer to stay because he's a guy we want to build our side around.

"We are waiting for his answer. We want to know as soon as possible if he wants to look for pastures new so that we can look for an adequate replacement."

Fellow Wales back Kevin Morgan pledged his future to the region before Christmas by signing a new contract extension to stay at the region for the next two seasons.

Flanker Jamie Ringer and props Adam Black and Rhys Thomas, who were also out of contract at the end of the season, signed similar deals.

We've made a our offer and his agent has said they will be back to us Dragons coach Paul Turner

The Dragons are waiting to hear from seven other players, including Wales scrum-half Gareth Cooper and lock Ian Gough, after offering them new contract extensions.

Sweeney is currently behind Stephen Jones, Gavin Henson and James Hook in the reckoning for the Wales fly-half jersey and the inside centre role.

But Turner hopes Sweeney's ambitions to play for Wales will ensure he delivers some outstanding performances for the Dragons from now until the end of the season.

"I've told Ceri that for him to get in ahead of James Hook, Stephen Jones and Gavin Henson and make the World Cup squad, then he's got to stand up and be counted," Turner said.

"It's not just the selection of this [Dragons] side with me and the whole of the Rodney Parade crowd that's watching, it's everybody in Welsh rugby.

"He's got to put the Sweeney stamp on most of our performances.

"But we've made our offer and his agent has said they will be back to us and so we're waiting.

"I suppose he's also waiting, because that's the game in this business at the moment."