Borussia Dortmund expect Mats Hummels to make a decision on his future "soon" amid claims he is closing in on a return to Bayern Munich.
Dortmund captain Hummels is under contract until 2017 and is currently weighing up his options, with his father and agent, Hermann, saying last week that Bayern and Manchester City are among the leading contenders for the Germany centre-back's signature.
On Monday, respected German football magazine kicker reported that the 27-year-old, who came through the youth ranks at Bayern, is unlikely to move abroad and is set to choose between a contract extension with Dortmund or a move to the Allianz Arena.
Leading tabloid Bild added that Bayern are leading the race for his services and that he only needs to put pen to paper on a deal that would offer him an annual basic salary of €10 million, which would match the offer from BVB.
Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc confirmed in kicker that the club expect Hummels to make a decision on his future "soon" -- although he added that they could insist on players seeing out their contracts.
Hummels, Ilkay Gundogan, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Marcel Schmelzer will all enter the final 12 months of their contracts this summer.
BVB lost Robert Lewandowski to Bayern on a free transfer in 2014 after making him see out his deal and, asked if a repeat was possible, Zorc replied: "I don't want to confirm that but I won't rule it out. In the end, it is our decision."
Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke, meanwhile, said following Borussia's 3-0 win at Stuttgart on Saturday that it is "totally clear we will fight for Mats" but said his departure would not be a disaster for the club.
Gundogan is also being tipped to move to Manchester City this summer but Dortmund have lost several key players in the past -- notably when Bayern signed Mario Gotze in 2013 and Lewandowski the following year -- and Watzke remains defiant.
"No matter what a player decides, the past five years have shown that we can replace every player," he said.
"We have always found solutions and will find solutions again."
Borussia coach Thomas Tuchel said at the weekend that he is convinced he will have a "powerful squad" next season.