Stand-out candidate for the Sheffield United job would favour a return to England

As The Star first revealed last week, neither Jokanovic nor his representatives have been contacted by anyone acting on behalf of Bramall Lane since Chris Wilder’s departure a month ago.

After masterminding promotion winning campaigns at both Watford and Fulham, the Serb appears perfectly qualified to take charge of United when their relegation from the Premier League is mathematically confirmed.

Although he has yet to confirm if he will wave goodbye to the seven time Qatari champions following Saturday’s game against Umm Salal, Jokanovic is known to have already attracted admiring glances from several clubs on the continent keen to acquire his services.

Although he is thought to be open to the idea of working in one of the region’s leading competitions, sources close to the former Yugoslavia international claim the PL or the Championship are his preferred choices.

United placed Paul Heckingbottom in caretaker charge after parting company with Chris Wilder four weeks ago, but have lost all three of their outings under the 43-year-old.

Alexander Blessin, now of KV Oostende and previously a youth coach at RB Leipzig, is known to have attracted admiring glances from their Saudi Arabian owner HRH Prince Abdullah bin Musa’ad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. But the German could struggle to secure a work permit under the new post-Brexit points system.

Jokanovic would also require a Governing Body Endorsement after leaving Craven Cottage in November 2018, before spending the past two seasons in the Middle East. However, his path to one appears much more simple than the route Blessin and his backroom staff at the Verluys Arena would be forced to take if they are chosen following an exhaustive selection process.

United will make their fourth appearance under Heckingbottom when Arsenal visit South Yorkshire this weekend. However, having prepared for the match 15 points adrift of safety with only eight remaining, even United’s mathematical hopes of survival are almost non-existent.

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