NEW YORK — Inter Miami believe they have identified their inaugural head coach and hope to have a deal announced soon.

Currently juggling a number of projects, from the pair of stadiums they're working on to building out a roster as well as a number of other key decisions and expansion milestones, the 2020 MLS debutants hope to check that big item off the to-do list in the coming days or weeks.

“We’re active with coaching, we’re trying to finalize it soon," sporting director Paul McDonough told MLSsoccer.com on Sunday. "We’ve been heavily involved in talking to people, we think we’re pretty close to finalizing with the guy we want to lead the project.”

McDonough did not indicate the candidate, though the club have been heavily linked with former Real Madrid head coach Santiago Solari in recent weeks. Before that, they were reported to be interested in former AC Milan boss Gennaro Gattuso. Miami co-owner David Beckham played with both Solari and Gattuso.

When can fans expect an announcement?

“I’d like it as soon as possible, but if we’re lucky to do it in the next couple weeks, that’d be great," McDonough said.

"We’re very close," co-owner Jorge Mas added. "We hope in the next two weeks we can get that wrapped up. It’s been good, we’re going to land a great coach for our team.”

Miami, who have signed five players to their inaugural roster, including highly-rated South American teenagers Julian Carranza, Matias Pellegrini and Christian Makoun, are inching closer to their MLS debut, now about five months away.

“Paul’s done an exhaustive search," Mas said. "We’re all trying to get a man who can establish the type of culture we want on our team, a man who can lead and who has had experience in terms of football at the highest levels, both coaching and hopefully playing, and can help put his fingerprints on our academy system."

While the club are confident they found their inaugural head coach, McDonough has contingency plans.

“You always have a couple people until it’s done," he said.