Leeds United are hoping to conclude the appointment of a new manager next week.
That is according to several reports, with interviews set to take place immediately after the weekend in the hope of making a decision in the days that follow.
Carlos Corberan, Daniel Farke and Scott Parker are among the leading contenders at this stage, though there is reportedly other unnamed targets in contention.
Corberan is currently at West Bromwich Albion and has a track record of improving sides in the Championship, taking Huddersfield Town to within 90 minutes of the Premier League in the 2021/22 season.
Farke and Parker, meanwhile, both have two Championship promotions on their CV, with the former having twice lifted the title twice with Norwich City.
Leeds cannot afford anymore delay after Leicester appointment
Alongside Leeds, Leicester City and Southampton were the other two sides relegated from the Premier League last season.
Southampton have all but wrapped up the appointment of Russell Martin, while Leicester themselves finally confirmed Enzo Maresca as their new manager on Friday.
Leeds are likely to be fighting for promotion with both these two sides but are now behind both in terms of preparation with them now able to get their player recruitment drive underway.
Each of the three clubs relegated are likely to see several players come both in and out, but Leeds will not be able to begin that process until a manager is in the building.
With each of the relegated trio likely to be shopping in a similar market, Leeds face losing out on key targets if they wait much longer.
An appointment is expected next week, but that was also said about the one just gone, and Leeds simply cannot afford to delay the process any longer.
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