Chelsea could offer Mauricio Pochettino the role by Saturday night with senior figures set to meet in Los Angeles to make a final decision, according to reports.
The former Tottenham boss is believed to be the favoured candidate following a three-week search led by co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart.
Pochettino, 51, who has been out of work since being sacked by Paris Saint Germain last summer, spent Monday in talks which have reached an advanced stage.
An arranged meeting is now set to take place in LA on Saturday where Winstanley and Stewart could make a contractual offer to Pochettino, The Times reported.