Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) are continuing to express interest in a deal for Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior and made contact with the forward's representatives last month, sources have told ESPN.
Saudi officials first made contact about a possible deal for Vinícius last summer, and ESPN reported that the Brazil international did not reject the approach, although no formal offer was made.
Sources told ESPN that representatives of the Saudi PIF -- which controls the Saudi Pro League's top four clubs -- got back in touch with Vinícius's team in December.
Again, no concrete proposal was made, but the talks were intended to maintain contact between the camps, and show that the Saudi interest in Vinicius remains active.
Vinícius won last year's FIFA The Best men's player award and finished second in the men's Ballon d'Or after helping Madrid win a LaLiga and Champions League double last season.
The star forward has a contract with Madrid until 2027, with a €1 billion release clause.
ESPN first reported on interest from the Saudi Pro League in Vinícius in August last year.
Representatives of the Saudi PIF approached the players' entourage, presenting an initial proposal that would include an annual salary of up to €350 million.
The player did not dismiss the idea, and kept open the possibility of a future deal, but negotiations did not progress further.
ESPN reported that there was an acceptance from Vinícius' representatives that for a move to happen, Madrid would have to be willing to accept a fee less than that €1bn release clause figure.
Last summer, there were suggestions that a likely destination for Vinícius would be Al Ahli. However, the newspaper Marca reported on Sunday that Al Hilal -- currently joint top of the Saudi Pro League -- were candidates, with Vinicius a possible replacement for Neymar.
The Saudi PIF owns both Al Ahli and Al Hilal, as well as Al Nassr -- whose star player is Cristiano Ronaldo -- and Al Ittihad, led by Karim Benzema.
"We don't dream. It's a matter of time and negotiations," Saudi Pro League CEO Omar Mugharbel told Marca, when asked about signing Vinícius.