The Japan Football Association will make a formal offer to former Algeria coach Vahid Halilhodzic, a source confirmed on Friday.

In order to conduct formal negotiations with Halilhodzic, who took Algeria to the round of 16 at last year’s World Cup in Brazil, JFA technical director Masahiro Shimoda left for Europe on Thursday.

Following the firing of Mexican coach Javier Aguirre, Shimoda traveled to Europe to gather information on candidates and conduct informal talks. On Feb. 21, Shimoda left Paris to return to Japan.

Last Sunday, an emergency meeting of the technical committee was held in which the field of candidates was narrowed down and prioritized. At a meeting on Wednesday that included JFA President Kuniya Daini, Halilhodzic, a 62-year-old citizen of Bosnia-Herzegovina, emerged as the front-runner.

Halilhodzic is not currently under contract, meaning he might be able to see the start of the J. League season on March 7 — a target that the JFA set after firing Aguirre. The association selected that date so as to get the most out of Japan’s home friendlies on March 27 and 31 against Tunisia and Uzbekistan.