Uruguay playmaker Gastón Ramírez could be in line for a return to former loan side Middlesbrough after the player pulled out of a pre-contract deal with Peñarol.
Boro fans who wanted to see Ramírez return permanently looked to be facing disappointment after the revelation that he had signed a deal with the Uruguayan side before moving to Teesside on loan in January.
Now, though, the Gazette claim that Ramírez' agent has managed to pull his client out of the deal with a return to Middlesbrough agreed - but the newly-promoted side could face a struggle to get their man over the line.
Boro face work permit appeal
With Ramírez having been registered abroad as he looked to move to Peñarol, the former Southampton and Hull City man will now need to re-apply for a work permit in the UK - which would almost certainly be turned down.
However, Boro will appeal the decision and hope that Uruguay manager Óscar Tabárez will confirm that Ramírez is back in the international fold, which would significantly help their case.
Ramírez joined Middlesbrough late in the January transfer window on loan until the end of the 2015/16 season, and was arguably the most important player for Aitor Karanka's side as they clinched relegation on the final day.
Ramírez would return as promotion hero
While big-money striker Jordan Rhodes took time to settle in his new surroundings, Ramírez hit the ground running straight away and finished the season with seven goals in 18 league appearances.
He also unwittingly played a crucial role in Boro's final-day promotion shoot-out with Brighton and Hove Albion, drawing the foul from Dale Stephens which saw the Seagulls reduced to ten men.
Should Ramírez return to the club, he will form part of a small Uruguayan contingent on Teesside which includes international teammate Cristhian Stuani, left winger Carlos de Pena and popular goalkeeping coach Leo Percovich.