Leicester City are in negotiations with former Aston Villa and Norwich manager Dean Smith over a short-term deal to try to save the club from relegation.
After discussions with a number of candidates - including former Leeds boss Jesse Marsch - Sky Sports News has been told Smith is Leicester's preferred option, with talks progressing well on a contract until the summer.
Smith, who led Villa to the Premier League in 2019, was sacked as Norwich boss in December after suffering a defeat to Luton in the Championship on Boxing Day.
As part of the deal to take him to the King Power, former Leicester favourite Craig Shakespeare could also return as Smith's assistant.
Shakespeare was part of the coaching team under Claudio Ranieri when Leicester won the Premier League title in 2016, and then took over as boss when Ranieri was sacked a year later.
