West Brom have earmarked Leicester assistant manager Michael Appleton as a potential long-term replacement for Alan Pardew, claims The Daily Telegraph.
The Baggies are rock bottom of the Premier League and eight points adrift of safety with eight games remaining to save their top-flight status.
Pardew was only appointed West Brom boss at the end of November but is on the brink of the sack after a miserable four months in charge of the midlands outfit.
West Brom are planning wholesale changes in the summer regardless of whether they are relegated this season and Appleton is emerging as a serious candidate to lead them in a new direction.
Appleton left Oxford United to become assistant manager at Leicester in June 2017 but is now being linked with a return to the Hawthorns.
The 42-year-old finished his playing career at West Brom before starting his coaching career at the club, even enduring a stint as interim manager in 2011.
Only Malaga (7) are currently on a longer losing streak than West Brom (6) in Europe’s top five leagues.
