Jorge Sampaoli has attracted a host of interested nations after leaving Argentina, but he is determined to hold out for a job with the Mexican national team.
The former Chile and Sevilla boss was sacked by the Argentine FA after a World Cup campaign rocked by rumours of dressing room revolts and which eventually ended in last-16 defeat.
Sampaoli lasted just over 12 months in the post, after being dubbed the "best coach in the world" by AFA president Claudio Tapia in 2017.
Goal understands, however, that the 58-year-old Casilda native is unlikely to stay unemployed for long.
United States, Costa Rica and Paraguay have all been linked with Sampaoli, with the latter calling him to find out if he would be available to succeed Francisco Arce as the Guarani's next coach.
Sampaoli, meanwhile, favours Mexico, who are also looking for a new head coach following the departure of Colombian Juan Carlos Osorio.
With Piojo Herrera, Tuca Ferretti and Matias Almeyda now out of the running, El Tri have two further options: Betis' Quiquie Setien and Andre Villas Coas, currently unattached.
Approaching Setien may prove a daunting prospect, as the Spaniard is under contract in Seville until 2020 and has no intention of leaving, while Villas Boas favours a job that will keep him in Europe.
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The Argentine, therefore, is an attractive proposition despite his disastrous World Cup. Mexico have often turned to foreign coaches in the past, and Sampaoli's track record with Chile in the 2015 Copa America and coaching style is seen favourably within the FMF.
That Federation is reluctant to take a coach from Mexican football, and the Casilda man now looms as the best choice. Mexico, though, are keen to hire a coach with a long-term, eight-year project, and are likely to use an interim boss for the upcoming friendlies against Uruguay and the United States.
They might have to act quick, however, for Sampaoli is a man in demand, both in international and in club football.
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