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Marshawn Lynch is close to returning to football. ... The veteran running back, who retired following the 2015 season and sat out last year, visited the Oakland Raiders Wednesday.

During his visit, Lynch told the team that he intends to unretire and play football again, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Rapoport added: "It's a long process, though."

Indeed, the 30-year-old's contract is still held by Seattle, which means the Seahawks would have to release Lynch or the Raiders would have to trade for him.

According to Rapoport, Wednesday's meeting was cleared by the Seahawks.

The Raiders thought of it as a "fact-finding mission" on the enigmatic, five-time Pro Bowler, who has not played in a game since Jan. 17, 2016. Nonetheless, as NFL.com's Conor Orr put it, "A this point in the process, it would be hard to see the Lynch-to-Oakland train slowing down."

For the Raiders to request permission and set up a meeting in head coach Jack Del Rio's office, it means they are likely quite far along in the process.

Now, it remains a question of what they would give up -- or what Seattle would ask for -- to seal the deal.

As Profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio points out, if Lynch tried to force the Seahawks into releasing him he might be able to do so simply by un-retiring and reporting for work. Under his current contract, he’d be due a $9 million salary this year, which would make him the highest-paid running back currently under contract in the NFL.

It’s very unlikely that the Seahawks who are already deep with running backs Eddie Lacy, Thomas Rawls, CJ Prosise and Alex Collins on the team, want to add another running back to their roster.

So if Lynch were to report, Seattle would probably cut him.

But as Florio suggested, "The simpler way to do it would be for the Raiders and Seahawks to agree on some sort of compensation that would allow Lynch to join the Raiders immediately. He’s ready to go, and Oakland is ready to sign him."

And that might not be so far fetched.

During an appearance on ESPN 710 in Seattle on Wednesday afternoon, Seahawks general manager John Schneider confirmed Lynch only wants to play for the Raiders and said his relationship with Raiders G.M. Reggie McKenzie -- the two men shared an office with the Packers earlier in their careers -- would make for easy talks.

“It’s one that will go in a smooth manner because of our relationship,” Schneider said, via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times.

Stay tuned.