Wales boss Rob Page insists he still has no idea where Gareth Bale will end up this summer as hometown club Cardiff City step up efforts to complete an audacious swoop.
It's understood Bluebirds chairman Mehmet Dalman has flown in to step up talks over a move for the Wales skipper, who is currently a free agent after leaving Real Madrid.
However, it appears Bale has not yet discussed his future with Page, who issued a blunt, albeit good-natured reply when quizzed on the future of his star man.
"No," Page initially replied when asked if he knew where Bale would end up.
When pressed further, he added: "He understands what he needs to do. Gareth's problems in the past have been when he's not playing week in, week out.
"There was the Belarus game when he was undercooked coming into camp and ended up getting a little tweak in his calf, so he understands he needs to play. That will be his plan. I'm not lying when I say I haven't got a clue what he's doing. I haven't had that conversation yet. I will do, but I haven't up until now. It's up to him and his family to decide what's best for him to get him in the right frame of mind for November.
"It's going to be as simple as that. It might even be as short term as that. He's worked ever so hard throughout his career. He's the ultimate professional and he's earned the right to lead our country at a World Cup.
"Whatever he does from now until then is really important for him to get himself in the very best physical condition."
There had previously been a suggestion Bale would likely retire were Wales to fail in their bid to reach their first World Cup since 1958, but the forward once again showcased his importance to his country, following up his brace against Austria by netting a deflected free-kick against Ukraine to send his team to the finals in Qatar (although the goal was later given as an Andriy Yarmolenko own goal).
At 32, the World Cup is likely to be Bale's final flourish as a player, but attention will now turn to how he spends his time from now until November, as he looks for an environment that will help give him the best possible platform to flourish in Qatar.
Wherever he goes, Bale will clearly need to ensure he stays injury-free, something that could well be factor in his final decision, with Page hinting that Bale might need to be afforded some special treatment from his next club, whoever it may be.
"That's going to be his difficulty," Page added.
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"Finding someone that will manage him like that and he has to take that responsibility himself. That will determine then whether he plays a lot of football because if he's not able to train like that through the week then a manager at a club might not want to select him on the weekend.
"For me, it's a common sense approach. Looking after him through the week and making sure he's available for selection."
Bale's heroics against Ukraine came despite him previously playing just 20 minutes of senior football since the win over the Austria, but Page insists that playing without a club shouldn't be considered a viable option over the coming months.
"I think that's unrealistic," he added. "He needs to have that level of domestic football. Whatever level he wants to go in at. I still think he can play in the Premier League. I think he's got a lot offer. I see it daily. But whatever level he goes into it needs to have that competitive edge to it, where he's training with a group of people day in day out and then playing the games as well.
"You can do all the training in the world but it doesn't replicate what you face in a game."
Meanwhile, Page says he will also speak to Aaron Ramsey, who despite having one year left on his current deal, has been strongly tipped for a move this summer.
"At the end of the camp, at the end of the last game, I will maybe have that conversation with him," he added. "They're experienced players. They'll know what's best for themselves. If he has to go back to do a pre-season to see where he's at then he'll probably do that. Maybe get himself fit and make that decision before the window closes to get out and maybe have another loan move or whatever.
"It's a conversation I'll have before we part after camp."
Despite suggestions elsewhere, a possible move to Cardiff doesn't currently appear to be on the cards. Reports had recently claimed that the former Arsenal midfielder was part of the conversation for the Bluebirds this summer, amid suggestions in Italy that Juventus would tear up the midfielder's big-money contract.
While it's possible that Ramsey's name has perhaps been mentioned within the capital, sources have told WalesOnline that City have not made even tentative contact with Ramsey's representatives at this stage.
In any case, Ramsey would surely need to be released on a free transfer by Juve were an emotional return to even become something of a faint possibility.
