Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill has spoken of his desire to tie Manu Tuilagi down to a new contract that would keep him at the club for the next decade.

The 24-year-old has been plagued by a groin problem that has kept him out of the game for more than a year, while his international future remains in doubt due to off-field troubles.

The centre is thought to be wanted by Saracens and French club Toulouse when his contract expires next summer, but Cockerill insisted that the Tigers are willing to make him one of the highest-paid players in the world.

"We have put our best foot forward, contractually. I understand in this world that we live in that people have choices to make. He is a young man and there is lots of rugby left in him. There are probably 10 years left in him and we would like him to be here for the next 10 years," he told BBC Radio Leicester.

"We have made that known to him. He wants to stay here and we have made an offer that would make him up there with the highest-paid players in the world. We are just waiting for that answer. We would like to think that it will get done sooner rather than later.

"If players want to have a look around, they will have a look around and I understand that. It has happened in the past. You have to find your place in the marketplace. We have to make sure that our coaching and environment is so good that people want to stay."

Leicester are currently fourth in the Aviva Premiership table having won three of their opening four games.