Peter Gentle's appointment as Parramatta's head of academy has helped launch the club's effort to bring Blaize Talagi back, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Gentle replaced James Shepherd after resigning as Manly's head of football in September; more than a decade ago, he was an assistant coach under former Eels coach Brad Arthur.
Parramatta are reportedly monitoring Talagi's contract situation, as the five-eighth has no deal in place for 2028.
The Cabramatta junior left the Eels' first-grade side to join Penrith in 2025, signing a three-year contract worth $1.5 million.
He is now in the final year of that agreement and has been part of two consecutive Panthers preliminary-final campaigns, despite struggling for form.
Parramatta hope to secure him on a long-term deal and could bring him home in 2027.
Talagi is recovering from an Achilles injury and is not expected to play much in 2027.
The Panthers could release him from the final year of his contract to free salary-cap space.
The Eels would like him to play centre in 2027 before moving to five-eighth in 2028, when Jarome Luai is set to join the PNG Chiefs.