Former Wolves manager made favourite to take charge of Championship side

Former Wolves manager Nuno Espírito Santo has emerged as the favourite to take over at Stoke City, following their decision to part ways with Alex Neil on Sunday, the day after losing to Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship.

The Potters were handed a 1-0 win at home at the hands of the Owls, who are currently fighting a tough relegation battle. It marked Stoke's fourth consecutive league defeat and their 11th of the season so far. They are currently 19th in the table, just two points above the drop zone.

Chairman John Coates admitted it was a tough decision to let Neil go but after their run of form this season, the club is now looking to 'seek a new direction for the team at this time.' Paul Gallagher is standing in as interim manager for the time being, but the search for a full-time replacement is underway.

Espírito Santo is now in the lead with the bookmakers to take over as head coach at the bet365 Stadium. The 49-year-old first moved to England in 2017 when he signed with Wolves, making an immediate impact and guiding them to Premier League promotion within his first season. He was handed a contract extension the following summer, keeping him at Molineux until 2021.

Espírito Santo signed a further extension through to 2023 but he left the club via mutual consent in May 2021. The following month, he moved to Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur but was sacked after less than four months in charge, following his fifth loss in seven games.

Espírito Santo has since been in charge of Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad, helping them win their first league title in 14 years, but he was dismissed last month and is now looking for his next challenge, which could well be a return to England.