Thomson (28) has been linked with a move to the Crusaders but said yesterday it was not something to which he had given much thought, as he was busy playing for the Highlanders.
"It is not a given that I will re-sign [with Otago] and there are plenty of options ...
"At the moment I haven't really been thinking about it a lot.
"I've been concentrating on playing and will see it what happens at the end of the season," Thomson said.
Thomson has links with Canterbury, having been born in Ashburton and gone to Christchurch Boys' High School, where he was a team-mate of Dan Carter's.
He moved to Dunedin to study at the University of Otago after leaving school, and has been in the South ever since.
He said a move overseas was an option but that depended on his standing with the All Blacks, and how he was shaping up going into the World Cup next year.
Thomson signed a two-year contract in 2008, and it would be a huge blow to Otago if he decided to move elsewhere.
But a shift to the Crusaders would undoubtedly be an attractive option, teaming up with the likes of captain Richie McCaw and fellow loose forward Kieran Read.
That trio has impressed in the All Blacks and could be potent at Super 15 level.
Next year's Super 15 will be basically a season-long trial to make the All Black World Cup squad and playing in a winning side such as the Crusaders would be more helpful for national selection than playing for the Highlanders who, although improving, are nearer the bottom than the top of the table.
The Crusaders are always linked with many players, and do not comment until they finally sign players, but they will be on the outlook for another loose forward, with No 8 Thomas Waldrom heading overseas at the end of the season.
Otago Rugby Football Union chief executive Richard Reid said the union had made an offer to Thomson and was waiting to hear back from him.
But there was no rush and, with players sometimes out of the country, and also wanting to concentrate on playing, negotiations could go on for a while.
Reid said shifting to direct contracting for the franchises next year might make the selection system somewhat different.
Although it had yet to be finally agreed and was still to be worked through by the New Zealand Rugby Union, selection for the 2011 Super 15 squads would come down to what provincial union a player turned out for in 2010.
From 2011 onwards, Super 15 teams will be able to directly contract players, no matter what province they play for.
But there will be an overlapping period from this year to next and contracts will have to run out, before full direct franchise contracting is under way.
He said it was hypothetical if Thomson wanted to go to the Crusaders next year, as under the proposed rules it was unlikely to happen.
He said talks with Thomson and his agent started about two to three weeks ago and he was happy with the way they were progressing.
