Former Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is set to be named the new Fulham boss today, according to several reports in UK dailies.

There was intense speculation yesterday that Hughes was to be appointed into the job after bookmakers reported a spike in betting patterns on the former Wales coach having accepted the job. A renowned bookmaker noted that it was the increase in quantity of bets that would suggest that something significant had or was happening to indicate some truth in the matter.

While Hughes has repeatedly claimed that he was not looking to leave the North West, he may finally have been convinced to move South and take on the job of succeeding the departed Roy Hodgson, who left earlier this summer to take over as the new Liverpool boss.

Hughes is said to be given a deal worth £2million per season on a three-year deal, while he would be given £20 million in transfer funds to improve a squad that reached the Europa League final last season and achieved another respectable finish in the Premier League.

The Welshman will also be the alternative that the Craven Cottage club are turning to after the debacle involving Ajax manager Martin Jol, where the Dutchman admitted he had made use of Fulham’s interest to gain leverage against the Dutch giants’ board.

Mark Bowen is reportedly set to join Mark Hughes as his assistant, and despite being Fulham’s third or fourth choice after the likes of Sven Goran Eriksson and Martin Jol, club owner Mohamed Al Fayed will be hoping that the club can finally settle down to preparing for what would be a testing season ahead, with just three weeks to go before the Premier League campaign kicks off.

Tags: English Premier League, football managers, Fulham, Mark Hughes