Still rudderless West Brom have reportedly opened talks with Valerien Ismael to be their next manager, after the Barnsley boss impressed in the Championship last season.
The Baggies fell a full 13 points short of Premier League survival last season, with Sam Allardyce walking out at the end of the campaign having only succeeded Slaven Bilic last December.
The Baggies are looking to bounce-back quickly, with Chris Wilder and David Wagner – who have hoisted teams into the top-flight – seen as early candidates.
However, with Wagner joining Young Boys in Switzerland and links to the former Sheffield United boss collapsing after the sudden departure of technical director Luke Dowling, both men are out of the running.
French coach Ismael is now West Brom's first choice for the job, according to the Athletic.
The 45-year-old former Bayern Munich and Crystal Palace centre-back has two years to run on his Barnsley deal, meaning the Baggies will have to shell-out £2million to appoint him.
Ismael arrived in South Yorkshire in October with the club winless seven games into the season, before a stunning turnaround fired the club into the promotion race.
Barnsley reached the play-off semi-final but lost to Swansea, having sealed their best finish in the league since the 1999/2000 season.
West Brom were promoted to the Premier League in second but endured a miserable season, winning just five games.