Competitor gives prisoner offer (9)
I believe the answer is:
contender
'competitor' is the definition.
(I know that competitor can be written as contender)
'prisoner offer' is the wordplay.
'prisoner' becomes 'con' (abbreviation for 'convict').
'offer' becomes 'tender' (tender can mean to offer something).
'con'+'tender'='CONTENDER'
'gives' is the link.
(Other definitions for contender that I've seen before include "Competitor, challenger" , "Struggler in rivalry" , "One seeking title" , "One striving" , "No red cent (anag.)" .)