Cristiano Ronaldo has told Manchester United he is keen to move back to Old Trafford as doubts over the Portuguese superstar's Real Madrid future continue.
United have looked at the possibility of bringing back Ronaldo this summer, and while they have failed to manufacture a move, it looks like a switch could happen sooner rather than later.
According to the Guardian, Ronaldo has told the United hierarchy he is looking forward to playing for United again, but sometime in the future.
While a move for one of the best players in the world has been ruled out for this summer, a switch next year or in a couple of years looks extremely likely, the report suggests.
Ronaldo has stated several times his love for United and would reportedly love to end his career with the club, with the possibility of spending the final few years of his career seen as the most likely.
Gareth Bale is set to break the world transfer record, set when Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid, and sign for the Spanish giants and Real could see Bale as a long-term replacement for Ronaldo.
However, it is still believed Ronaldo will sign a lucrative new contract with Real soon and then look to move to United maybe in a couple of years' time.
Meanwhile, United manager David Moyes has implored Everton to let Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines move to Old Trafford to further their careers.
"If I was the Everton manager and Sir Alex (Ferguson) had come asking for Baines and Fellaini, I would have found it very difficult to keep them," he said. "I always felt the right thing to do was what was right for the players.
"The (first) bid was probably, from our point of view, a private thing and I guess when we make a new offer we will keep that confidential as well.
"The transfer window is open and we can make bids and you can say 'Yes or no', it's as simple as that. You are allowed to bid. That's not our choice (to make it public). That's up to them. You need to ask them that question.
"There's sort of a mixed market at the moment. No one is quite sure where the price is right. It's a sort of strange market. Suddenly someone could give you big money.
"We've had offers for players at this club, which we feel are quite small. I can see it where other clubs might be thinking it's not enough value for their players as well."