Every time things heat up at Yahoo (NSDQ: YHOO), they seem to play the Google (NSDQ: GOOG) card. In the days before it went into failed negotiations with Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT), the company leaked word that an ad deal with Google would be announced soon, possibly the following week. That didn’t happen once the deal collapsed. And now, with Yahoo totally back in play, here it comes again: News.com is corroborating a New York Post story from this morning, suggesting a deal is imminent and that an announcement is expected—wait for it—next week.

When Microsoft and Yahoo fell apart, the price gap was part of it, but Ballmer also saw the Google deal as an impediment to making it work. But then Ballmer also wanted to keep things friendly. With Icahn now in control, this type of maneuvering on Yahoo’s part will probably just steel his resolve that the board and top brass has to go.

• Yahoo May Do Full Rollout of Google Ads Next Week; Could Include Non-Exclusive Ads on Competitors