Manchester United winger and current Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo has allegedly agreed personal terms with persistent suitors Real Madrid.
The Guardian claims that the Portuguese international is eager to move to the Spanish capital, despite his eventual admission last summer that he was to remain at Old Trafford.
The English source states further that the player's advisors have already secured for him favourable terms and wages at the Santiago Bernabeu, and all that is left is to find an agreement with the English club.
While these reports find little backup in the Spanish press, this may be because, unlike last summer's frenzy of publicity, those involved have made a concerted effort to keep matters quiet.
Almost all have done so, but as long ago as December a Madrid director, Pedro Trapote, was heard proclaiming that the Blancos had "already signed" their top summer target. "Cristiano - there is no other," said the long-time club socio.
Interestingly, The Guardian further claims that Ronaldo is quietly determined not to be denied a transfer this summer, despite Sir Alex Ferguson's vocal protestations that Real Madrid of all teams will not be laying a finger on one of his top assets.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, were moved recently by recent press rumours regarding Inter's Maicon to state that the current administration - who will be voted out of office in June - are not in any form of transfer negotiation with players. This throws these reports into a measure of doubt, although it's worth noting that much of the key discussion was said to have taken place last year during the reign of Ramon Calderon.
Cristiano Ronaldo is under contract until 2012, and as such can only move for a fee. The figure mooted for this transfer is no less than £75m (€82m) - an undisputed world record.