Flavio Briatore has confirmed that he has submitted a contract to Fernando Alonso in a bid to lure the double world champion back to Renault for 2008.

Having announced he was parting ways with McLaren yesterday, Alonso's whereabouts in 2008 has kick started a flurry of rumours, but long-time favourites Renault are leading the race for his signature by revealing they have placed a contract on the table already.

Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Briatore claims that he is keen to see Alonso return to the team in which he captured the 2005 and 2006 driver titles, as well as helping the team to the constructor championships in those years too.

Although the formalities of the agreement have not been revealed, Briatore hinted that he would like to keep Alonso at Renault for longer than a single-year.

"I have presented a project for the future to Fernando. If his desires coincide with ours, it can happen.

"I know how much he can still give Renault. But an agreement for one year would have no sense with an outlook projected for a period of time."

This revelation however is likely to create some furrowed brows for current drivers Giancarlo Fisichella, Heikki Kovalainen and Nelson Piquet Jr, all of which have not firmed up plans for 2008.

With Piquet thought to be contracted to a race drive somewhere on the Formula 1 grid, at least one driver, possibly two, in the trio are set to be exiting the team in the short-term.

Alonso left Renault at the end of 2006, but endured difficult times at McLaren after numerous conflicts of interest with boss Ron Dennis and team-mate Lewis Hamilton.