Graham Potter could be in Amsterdam to finalise a return to management with Ajax tomorrow, following talks with the Eredivisie club, according to reports.
Mail Sport reported that the former Chelsea and Brighton boss had held talks with the struggling Dutch giants earlier this month, though at that stage he was believed to be keeping his options open
The 48-year-old has been out of work since his Stamford Bridge dismissal last April following a poor run of form in a campaign which ended with the Blues languishing in 12th in the Premier League.
After lasting only seven months into a five-year deal, Potter was understood to be looking for the right club with a clear strategy and was happy to remain patient until the right emerged.
According to ESPN Netherlands, he is a step closer to that reality. They report that Potter and Ajax are in ‘very serious stages stages’ and he could travel to Amsterdam as earlier as Wednesday or Thursday.
Ajax made their approach earlier this year and other high profile clubs have also spoken to the coach manager as they consider changes to their leadership this summer.
The four-time European Cup winners, who added former Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson to their ranks this season, bounced back from a humiliating 6-0 loss to Feyenoord by beating Twente last Sunday.
The result saw them move up to fifth in the Eredivisie, though they are a mammoth 33 points behind leaders PSV and seven points adrift of European qualification.
Ajax’s season of chaos has continued after the club suspended their new CEO Alex Kroes after ‘indications he was engaged in insider trading’.
Kroes was appointed by the Dutch side last summer but was only able to begin his duties in Amsterdam last month due to contract complications with previous club AZ Alkmaar.
The nightmare campaign has seen them sack Maurice Steijn as manager following a disastrous set of results in October that left them in the Eredivisie relegation zone with just five points – their worst run since 1954.
There has been fan fury and protests too with a game against Feyenoord abandoned in September after flares and fireworks were thrown onto the pitch with the side 3-0 down. Just hours later, chief Pier Eringa stepped down after six months in the role.
Just days before, director of football Sven Mislintat was axed after just 129 days in the job following some poor signings last summer.
