"Early talks" refers to discussions or negotiations that are in the initial stages or just beginning. It suggests that the conversation or planning is at an early phase and there may be more discussions or developments to follow. Full definition
That project was in the works for years, and in early talks with elected officials in 2014, the developers pushed back against requests to include a school on the site. (dnainfo.com)
I remember listening to her tell her story on a podcast a couple of years earlier talking about how she had one day found herself broke and homeless. (inkwelleditorial.com)
Remember earlier we talked about the stress hormone cortisol? (thebettyrocker.com)