Gareth Bale's agent has confirmed a return to English football is "likely" for him next season, with his hometown club Cardiff City believed to be among the options he is weighing up.
The Wales captain, 32, sees his six-year deal with Real Madrid finally come to an end next month as intrigue surrounding his next move begins to swirl. It is thought no decision will be made on his future until after Wales' World Cup play-off final against either Scotland or Ukraine on June 5.
Several clubs are thought to be in the mix, though, the latest being DC United in the MLS who are reportedly prepared to offer him mega-bucks to go Stateside this summer. However, the latest comment from Bale's agent, Jonathan Barnett, appears to kibosh the notion of a move across the Atlantic.
READ MORE : Gareth Bale to Cardiff City now odds on as transfer betting slashed
Saudi-backed, uber-rich Newcastle United appear to linger near the top of the odds lists, too, along with his former club Spurs, however the notion of him signing for his hometown club, Cardiff, for whom his uncle Chris Pike was a fans' favourite back in the early 1990s, is not impossible.
Indeed, Cardiff have moved to odds-on 1/3 favourites with the bookmakers in recent days, a seismic shift from just a few weeks ago when you could get 8/1 on him moving to the Welsh capital city club. And talk of him moving to the Championship club will surely only heighten following Barnett's most recent comments.
Speaking to Portuguese outlet the Daily Record, Barnett said: "He leaves Real Madrid, but we have to wait for what Wales will be able to do [on June 5]. It all depends on whether Wales qualify for the World Cup, then we will make a decision, which may vary whether or not Wales go to the World Cup.
"Is it more likely to return to England? I think so, but we'll have to wait and see if Wales qualifies for the World Cup."
Just this month, manager Steve Morison spoke of the prospect of links between the Bluebirds and Bale, echoing what chairman Mehmet Dalman said about being "willing listeners" if it is what the player wanted.
"Who wouldn't be? Is there anyone who wouldn't be a willing listener?!" he said when asked about Dalman's comments by WalesOnline.
"I'm not going to go and get Gareth Bale's number and ring him and say, 'Oh, by the way, do you want to come and join Cardiff?'
"It's an absolute no-brainer. It would be great. It would be a great boost for everybody. But if it did happen, he would have to come and be part of the change. He would have to come and fit in and buy into it.
"I'm sure if anything like that was going to happen then me and him would have a chat because there would be a lot to talk about. One of them would be making sure [the press] don't find out about it!"
