Juventus are more and more confident of pulling off a stunning swoop for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo is ready to accept Juventus’ eye-watering £26.5million-a-year deal, taking him up to the age of 37.
Their offer is an increase on Ronaldo’s current £18.5m-a-year Real Madrid contract that which runs until 2021.
The Italian champions are now working on a transfer-fee package to tempt Real Madrid. He has a €1bn buyout clause but also a separate agreement in his contract allowing him to leave if a suitable bid is made.
With Ronaldo's age, Juve believe a figure of around €100m could suffice.
The 33-year-old’s discontent at the Bernabeu and the fact they have agreed on terms with him have left Juventus almost certain Ronaldo will be playing in Turin next season.
Some sources close to the Turin club rate the chances as high as 95%.
But they are wary that the Portuguese superstar's super-agent Jorge Mendes is hoping an auction kicks off for his biggest client and waiting to see if former club Manchester United or long-time admirers Paris Saint-Germain firm up their interest.
They will also know that this is not the first time Ronaldo has threatened to leave Madrid, who he joined in 2003 for a then world record £80m from Manchester United, only to change his mind and stay.
Ronaldo cast doubt over his Bernabeu future in the wake of their 3-1 Champions League final victory over Liverpool in May.
He implied he would be leaving this summer when he said: “It was very nice to be at Real Madrid. In the coming days, I will give a response to the fans, who have always been at my side.”
He later tried to back down, but Juve have received enough encouragement to work on what would be a spectacular transfer.
The fact Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Neymar of PSG are paid more than Ronaldo is at the heart of his discontent.
His last deal, signed in 2016, made him the best-paid player in the world but he has since been outdone by Messi and Neymar following his world record £200m move from Barca to the French giants last summer.
This article was most recently revised and updated 4 years ago
