Joe Manganiello and Caitlin O’Connor are allegedly preparing to take their relationship to the next level.

More than a year after becoming an item, reports claim Manganiello is preparing to walk down the aisle and start a family with the younger actress.

The move comes a little over a year after the “Magic Mike” actor ended his marriage to Sofia Vergara.

Amid recent engagement rumors, sources close to the couple reveal that Manganiello hasn’t popped the big question yet.

You may be interested

In Other Trending News...Idaho Murder Dad’s Shocking Plea Deal Regret: “Ashamed I Couldn't End Kohberger Sooner” — What’s Really Behind His Heartbreaking Confession?

In Other Trending News...Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom Break Silence After Split—Is Mercury Retrograde to Blame for Their Cosmic Tango Gone Awry?

“They are not engaged … yet,” the insider confirmed. “But it’s heading in that direction soon. It’s not really a question.” While O’Connor doesn’t have a ring on her finger yet, the informant revealed that the couple is “very strong together and serious about a future.”

Part of their future reportedly includes children for the lovers, especially for Manganiello, who was allegedly unable to achieve that desire in his former marriage to Vergara. The source told US Weekly:

“They want to have a family. She wants to be a mom, and he’s open to being a father.”

Engagement rumors sparked last month when paparazzi captured Manganiello and O’Connor during a dinner date at Le Naumachie in Taormina, Italy.

The “World MMA Awards” presenter was spotted with what looked like a diamond piece on her ring finger.

Manganiello and O’Connor’s romance blossomed in July 2023, shortly after the “Rampage” actor announced his split from Vergara.

The lovebirds met at a post-premiere party for O’Connor’s HBO show, “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty,” in September 2023. They wasted no time, moving at full speed, and made their red carpet debut two months later.

It reportedly wasn’t difficult for Manganiello and O’Connor to merge their lives, given that the 35-year-old was already in the industry. O’Connor’s acting credits include “Electric Love,” “7 Lives Exposed, “American Satan,” and “A Cinderella Christmas,” among others.

Sources at the time noted they were perfectly aligned because they are “both so easygoing that they work really well together.”

Sources confirmed that the living situation was great for the “Nonnas” actor and O’Connor, with the actor’s chihuahua, Bubbles, bringing them even closer.

“We definitely have seen that Joe’s beloved rescue chihuahua, Bubbles, loves Caitlin,” an insider said. “Bubbles loves kissing Caitlin on the face and allowing Caitlin to hold her, which is pretty rare since she is protective of Joe. Seems like she has Bubbles’ approval.”

Before his thriving romance with O’Connor, Manganiello was married to Vergara for seven years before they went their separate ways.

Reports suggested that the former power couple called it quits due to disagreements over having children. Manganiello reportedly wanted one while the “Modern Family” actress, who has a son from a previous relationship, didn’t want kids as an older woman.

As The Blast reported, Vergara alluded to the rumors in an interview, saying, “My marriage broke up because my husband was younger; he wanted to have kids, and I didn’t want to be an old mom. I feel it’s not fair to the baby. I respect whoever does it, but that’s not for me anymore.”

Following Vergara’s confession, Manganiello debunked her claims, saying it wasn’t a desire for children that broke their marriage. The actor even claimed that they tried for a family the first year and a half of their marriage.

“I said, ‘If you’re done with kids, then I understand. Just tell me, and I’ll know what this is, and that’s okay. But that wasn’t the case with her. And I swore to her that I would never leave if it didn’t work out. And I didn’t,” he disclosed.

Manganiello, who said the marriage ended because they grew apart, expressed discomfort at being painted as a if he “had some sort of midlife crisis.”