Offer is expected first to soften (9)
I believe the answer is:
tenderise
'soften' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'offer is expected first' is the wordplay.
'offer' becomes 'tender' (tender can mean to offer something).
'expected first' becomes 'e' (1st letter of 'expected').
'tender'+'is'+'e'='TENDERISE'
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for tenderise that I've seen before include "soften flesh" , "pound" .)