Wests Tigers are keeping an eye on Kiwi prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona’s situation at the Storm as they draw up contingency plans for the possibility of Stefano Utoikamanu leaving the club at the end of the year.

The forward is essentially a free agent, given the only remaining clause that can activate his Tigers deal for next year is if the 16th-placed club make the top eight.

The Tigers have tabled a five-year deal to the prop worth close to $4 million, but it is expected he will command significant interest elsewhere in a barren forwards market.

They are reportedly interested in Asofa-Solomona if he gets a release from his Melbourne deal.

There was speculation at the start of the season that he was on the outer after he was dropped to the NSW Cup and he has been unable to regain a spot in the run-on team.

According to a NewsCorp report, the Tigers are also monitoring the situation of Raiders forward Emre Guler, who has requested a release on compassionate grounds to return to Sydney.

Rising Wests Tigers star Lachlan Galvin has made an impassioned plea for Utoikamanu to stay at the club, adamant he and other young guns are desperate to turn the joint-venture around.