GET LATEST BEARS NEWS, TRANSFERS AND GOSSIP STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX SIGN UP Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Bristol Bears fans will have to wait a little longer for one of their home town heroes to return.

England international prop Ellis Genge is set to stay at Leicester Tigers despite significant interest from Bears’ director of rugby Pat Lam.

The loosehead prop is one of a number of star men out of contract at Welford Road at the end of the current season with fellow internationals George Ford and Jonny May amongst those whose futures has yet to be locked down.

Genge left Bristol for Leicester Tigers midway through the 2015/16 season, following a series of problems both on the field, and off it. The 24-year-old grew up on an estate in Knowle West and felt he had to leave the city after getting arrested several times.

There were also unconfirmed reports the feisty forward was involved in a training ground bust-up with then Bristol coach Andy Robinson.

But the move to Tigers was an inspired one and he was quickly offered a permanent deal at the club, establishing himself as first choice.

(Image: Getty Images)

Eddie Jones and England quickly came calling and in 2016 he made his debut against Wales.

This autumn the frontrower, who now has 14 international caps, was part of the England squad which reached the Rugby World Cup final in Japan.

Bristol Live understands Bristol Bears put a significant offer to the prop but have been gazumped by his current employers Leicester Tigers who are desperate to keep hold of a player who embodies the physical forward prowess of the club’s former glory days.

Genge has previously stated his desire to one day return to his hometown club when asked about the subject as a guest on BT Sport but did not suggest a move was imminent, saying rather than move abroad at the 'tail-end' of his career he would prefer to head back to the West Country.

However Bristol Live can confirm Lam and his recruitment team at the Bears looked to speed that process up but he was unwilling to match Leicester’s price.

Speaking about how Lam insures Bristol are within the salary cap, he said: “Everything is around values for me.

“I haven’t spent any more money than my predecessors, I brought in the same contracting and recruitment model I had at Connacht, the difference is I have a bigger budget here.

“There is no way you can go over the salary cap, that’s why I say when an agent wants £10,000 more here or there, I say no.

“I go nowhere near that line.”

Genge ticks every box for Lam, with Genge being an England international and Bristolian, but the Bears director of rugby has a bottom line price for every transfer target.

Bristol Bears news straight to your phone! Are you mad about Bristol Bears? If so, you could receive the latest club news straight to your phone by signing up to our WhatsApp service. Bristol Bears writer John Evely will send you links to the breaking stories, direct to your mobile, via the easy-to-use app. Among the things you can expect are transfer news, interviews, match reports, injury updates, team news and live blogs. You could even use it to ask him a question. If you would like to sign up, save the number 07715 770289 to your phone (you must do this to receive our messages), then send BRISTOL BEARS in a message to that number via WhatsApp. We recommend saving the contact to your mobile as 'Bristol Bears News'. To unsubscribe at any time, just send STOP BRISTOL BEARS via WhatsApp to the same number and you will be removed from the service. Your number will not be used for any purpose other than to update you on all things Bristol Bears.

Bristol currently have four senior options at loosehead in Samoan international brothers James and Jordan Lay, Yann Thomas and Jake Woolmore who was awarded man of the match in the victory over Stade Francais last weekend.

With Genge’s move to Bristol dead in the water the latest reports suggest the Bears have switched their attention to close friend and England colleague Kyle Sinckler.

The Daily Mail report that the Bears will make the 26-year-old Harlequins tight-head one of the most expensive forwards in England with a deal worth approximately £500,000-a-year.

Whilst Premiership clubs cannot talk to out-of-contract players until January 1, the report says that Sinckler's profile is such that a number of clubs have been primed to pounce for the 31-capped England star.

The Bears currently have five options at tighthead in John Afoa, Lewis Thiede, Jake Armstrong, Nicky Thomas and Ollie Dawe.

In August Afoa signed a one-year deal extension at the club keeping him at Bristol until the end of the 2020/21 season when he will be 37. Thomas is on a one year contract at Bristol while Dawe is currently on loan at National One side Cinderford having spent the summer playing in New Zealand.