Nathan Jones has agreed terms to become Stoke's next manager.
Stoke have finalised a compensation package with Luton and the 45-year-old is currently sorting backroom staff.
Jones is keen to take the next step in his career after guiding Luton from League Two to second in League One.
The move does represent something of a gamble for Stoke's board, with Jones yet to manage in the Championship, but the style he has implemented at Kenilworth Road has won him plenty of admirers.
The Stoke board of chairman Peter Coates, his vice-chairman son John, and chief executive Tony Scholes have been impressed with the way Jones steered Luton to promotion with attractive football.
Technical director Mark Cartwright, a former goalkeeper, also played with Jones at Brighton in the 2000-01 season. Jones did his coaching apprenticeship at the south coast club, and was caretaker manager for two games, before assisting Chris Hughton.
Jones joined Luton in January 2016, guiding the team away from relegation, then won promotion to the third tier last season. His side are in the hunt to go up again and have scored the most goals in League One. An issue for Stoke fans this season has been a lack of goals.
Gary Rowett was sacked by Stoke this week only eight months after they recruited him from Derby.
The club acted amid fan unrest and with promotion slipping from sight. Stoke’s board believe the squad is one of the best in the Championship but they are eight points off the play-offs and lost 2-0 at home to Bristol City before drawing 1-1 at Shrewsbury in the FA Cup.