Stoke City have moved for Quique Sanchez Flores and are waiting for the former Watford manager to confirm that he will take the job.

Flores, dismissed by Watford in May 2016, is now the leading contender after Stoke had to abandon their attempt to lure Derby’s Gary Rowett. The 52-year-old is currently in charge of Spanish side Espanyol and has promised an answer on Friday.

Martin O’Neill, the Republic of Ireland manager, is still regarded as an attractive option by chairman Peter Coates but Flores could make his return to English football next week.

Stoke have told the players that the new manager will not be in charge before Monday’s trip to Manchester United, though there is an outside chance that Mark Hughes’s successor could sit in the Old Trafford stands if negotiations run smoothly.

Flores was given only one season by Watford, despite guiding them to a 13th-place finish and an FA Cup semi-final. However, Watford secured a mere eight points from 30 in the final 10 games to ensure his spell in England was brief.