TSV Hartberg manager Markus Schopp has missed their pre-season training camp ahead of the next campaign, with the Austrian one of the favourites to replace Valerien Ismael at Barnsley.
According to Hartberg's Sporting Director Erich Korherr in the Yorkshire Post's report, the 47-year-old is currently in England discussing terms with Barnsley, as the Championship side look to find a quick replacement for the outgoing Ismael who joined West Bromwich Albion last week.
Speaking about this managerial issue, Korherr said: "He'll be back on Tuesday. Then we'll see.
“We will find a solution. (Starting to look for a replacement) wouldn't be fair to Markus.”
Pre-season is set to get underway for the Tykes and they will be hoping to conduct a much smoother managerial process than West Brom, who were searching for a successor for over a month before appointing the Frenchman.
If it isn't, the second-tier club will be facing a bumpy ride with the season a matter of weeks away and key Alex Mowatt set to leave Oakwell on the expiry of his current deal this summer.
Ismael will also be sorely missed in South Yorkshire after taking over from Gerhard Struber at the start of last season, helping Barnsley to transform from being relegation candidates to promotion challengers - and they will be hoping the possible appointment of Schopp can help to provide stability at a real time of uncertainty.
It was previously thought the UK's withdrawal from the European Union and the work permit issues surrounding that could halt the club's plans to hire yet another manager from Europe - but he could join very shortly after missing this training camp and travelling to England specifically for these negotiations.
The Verdict:
If this move fails to materialise, Barnsley should look at the managers available in the UK with Brexit red tape seemingly disrupting their recruitment strategy.
Struber and Ismael both did very well at the Tykes and this is probably why they want to adopt a similar method again - but they must act quickly with pre-season around the corner and plenty of business to do ahead of the new campaign.
In their current state, they are unlikely to reach the heights of the playoffs but after such an impressive season last year, but they will at least want to stay away from the bottom after escaping the drop by the skin of their teeth in the 2019/20 campaign.
Ismael provided the platform for them to kick on, now it could be Schopp's turn to build on that.