Former Olympique Lyon coach Remi Garde has entered talks over the Newcastle United job.
The Mail on Sunday says Newcastle are in talks with former Arsenal player and Lyon coach Garde to take over as head coach - with the man once famous for being Arsene Wenger's first signing in English football now favourite to take over the job from Alan Pardew.
Stand-in coach John Carver has been told to take the job for another week but with Garde, who quit Lyon at the end of last season, ready to take charge immediately he is moving ahead of candidates such as Saint Etienne boss Christophe Galtier, who has said he won't move until the summer.
Garde won the French Cup during his team at Lyon and is close to Newcastle chief scout Graham Carr, who will have a big say in whom owner Mike Ashley and managing director Lee Charnley appoint.
He is willing to work as a head coach rather than manager - but ultimately Newcastle will have to decide whether they are prepared to wait for Galtier at the end of the season.