"We all know that, in all negotiations, the last and final decisions are the most difficult. Will we get a deal? I don't know - it will depend on what will be on the table," Michel was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

Since talks restarted last week, British ministers have said real progress has been made and that there is a good chance of a deal, but fishing is the biggest sticking point.

Michel, the former prime minister of Belgium, said the EU and UK are still struggling to bridge differences over fishing, "level playing field" guarantees, especially concerning subsidy law, and the deal's enforcement, according to the report.

"You know what are the most difficult topics, and we are working to try to find solutions on the most difficult topics," the newspaper quoted Michel as saying.

"It's not possible for me to assess what will happen in the next days or in the next two weeks," he was quoted as saying.

It was not clear from the report in what context Michel was speaking.

(Reporting by Juby Babu in Bengaluru, Editing by Franklin Paul and Sonya Hepinstall)