Scotland Yard detectives investigating the disappearance of Maddie McCann have asked for more money to continue the search for her.
The Home Office confirmed it is considering an application for more money to keep the probe, called Operation Grange, going for another year.
A spokesman told the Standard: "We have received and are considering a request from the MPS to extend funding for Operation Grange until the end of March 2020."
Government funding for the investigation has been agreed every six months.
So far £11.75million has been spent on the probe to find the missing girl, who vanished from the family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in Portugal in May 2007, aged three.
Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry McCann, of Rothley, Leicestershire, have vowed never to give up hope of finding their daughter.
In 2011, the Met Police launched its own investigation into what had happened to the toddler.
The force did not provide a comment this evening.
