Stoke City are waiting for Martin O’Neill ’s decision over their vacant manager’s job.
The Republic of Ireland boss was approached late on Friday night after it appeared that Quique Sanchez Flores would be staying put in Spain.
A delegation from the Potteries had hoped to persuade the Espanyol chief that his future lay in north Staffordshire.
But the former Watford manager resisted their overtures and decided to stay in Catalonia.
That left O’Neill as Stoke ’s only real alternative as they sought to find a quick replacement ahead of Monday's trip to Old Trafford.
O’Neill attended a dinner with sports’ writers in Ireland on Friday but remained tight-lipped on his future.
But the fact he has refused to rule himself out of the running indicates that he maintains an interest in the position.
And his hand will have been strengthened further by the fact that he is third on Stoke’s list – behind both Gary Rowett – who decided to stay at Derby County – and Flores.
O’Neill’s new contract with the Football Association of Ireland remains unsigned and the Potters – who were looking at a £3.5m bill if they had pursued Flores – would have to pay a fraction of that to secure his release.
However, it is by no means cut and dried that O’Neill would take on Stoke, laying as they are in the relegation zone.
He knows he was third-choice and, given that he was also in contention for the job at Everton before Sam Allardyce took the role, knows that the pool of managers with relevant Premier League experience is running dry.
That leaves him in a strong bargaining position and he wil certainly demand a position for Roy Keane as his assistant should he take up the offer.