Leicester Tigers are expecting lock Geoff Parling to receive offers from other clubs despite tabling their own bid to keep the out-of-contract 29-year-old.
Tigers chief executive Simon Cohen confirmed that the club have already put an offer on the table for Parling to consider.
But Cohen fully expects one of England's most consistent performers during the recent autumn internationals to go into the market and receive other offers, some worth more money, when Premiership clubs are officially allowed to approach him on New Year's Day.
"We would like to keep Geoff Parling and have made him a good offer," said Cohen.
"Undoubtedly, he will be able to get more elsewhere.
"The difficulty for us is getting the amount of people that we need in the squad within the salary cap.
"Geoff will have to work out whether it is worth taking slightly less money in return for the benefits of being in our system."
When asked whether he wanted to stay at Leicester next season, Parling answered "of course" and said he was hoping things would be sorted out soon.
"I have been away (with England) for a while so I have not had much chance to deal with it," he said.
"Hopefully, it will get sorted out soon."
Gloucester are understood to be top of the list of sides likely to be interested in courting Parling's services when the January 1 deadline has passed.
They already seemed resigned to losing former Leicester lock Jim Hamilton to Montpellier and fellow lock Alex Brown's ongoing injury problems must be a cause for concern.
Parling dismissed reports linking him with a move to the Cherry & Whites as "just stupid rumours" at this stage, but the former Newcastle man's recent form means he is unlikely to be without options, if he decides to reject Leicester's offer.
If he leaves Welford Road, Leicester could turn to former London Irish lock Nick Kennedy to replace him.
The 31-year-old is currently in the south of France with Toulon but is getting limited game time and is likely to be interested in a return to England.
Tigers are also wary of their large England contingent hurting them during international windows by being away for so long .
Parling arrived at Leicester in the summer of 2009 and, after a frustrating first season, became established in the first team.
His England debut arrived during this year's Six Nations and he was a permanent fixture during the autumn internationals.
