Wolfsburg poised for McClaren deal

(AP)

Wolfsburg are close to bringing in former England manager Steve McClaren as their new coach, according to reports in Germany.

The current FC Twente coach, who led the Dutch side to their first league title last week, is the No 1 target to become the new coach of the 2009 Bundesliga champions, and the local Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper reports that a deal is agreed and awaiting only his signature.

McClaren was spotted in Wolfsburg last Thursday and Friday meeting with club officials, but left without committing himself to a contract.

"I don't want to say anything yet because that would not be good for the situation," he said on Saturday. "I will say in the next few days what I will do next season."

McClaren spent the weekend in England, where he was believed to be mulling over Wolfsburg's offer before announcing his decision this week.

"If it were up to us, then things would be tied up very quickly," said Wolfsburg's managing director Dieter Hoeness after his side's final Bundesliga game of the season on Saturday.

He had wanted to make an announcement about who would take charge next season immediately after the win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.

Despite winning the league and qualifying automatically for next season's Champions League, Twente are facing a battle to hold onto their key players – including Costa Rican winger Bryan Ruiz who is reportedly a target for Fulham – and this is thought to be behind McClaren's decision to go to Germany.

Wolfsburg had a disappointing season, finishing eighth in the Bundesliga and have been searching for a new manager since the sacking of Armin Veh in January.

Lorenz Gunter Kostner has been in temporary charge of the team while a permanent manager is found.

Former Liverpool manager Gérard Houllier had been linked with the role, however McClaren now appears to be the front runner after the Frenchman reportedly ruled himself out of contention.