The truth about Slavisa Jokanovic's links with West Brom, as he agrees to become Sheffield United's manager

The Serb, who has accepted the challenge of leading United back to the Premier League following their relegation last season, was also linked with vacancy which exists at The Hawthorns ahead of his move to South Yorkshire.

Although West Brom who will also start next term in the Championship after surrendering their top-flight status, made discreet overtures to Jokanovic and his representatives over the weekend, they were discouraged after learning talks with United had reached an advanced stage.

The Midlands club’s Chinese owners are now expected to consolidate their interest in Jokanovic’s immediate predecessor Chris Wilder, who left United in March after twice leading them to promotion during nearly five years in charge.

Previously of Watford and Fulham, Jokanovic worked with West Brom’s sporting director at Vicarage Road where he won the first of his two promotions from England’s second tier. He repeated the feat in west London - boosting his reputation by introducing a playing style Neil Warnock, another former United manager, prompted him to describe Fulham as “The Manchester City” of the EFL.

Jokanovic, who has spent the past two years working for Al-Gharafa in Qatar, first discussed the possibility of replacing Wilder less than 24 hours after United’s defeat by Crystal Palace earlier this month. A second meeting, held later that week, revealed a difference of opinion about salaries and other budgets but, with neither party concerned those were insurmountable, that was thrashed out during subsequent conference calls.

Jokanovic’s first appearance in the dug-out for United will come in July, when they are scheduled to play the first of several warm-up fixtures arranged by caretaker manager Paul Heckingbottom and Jan van Winckel - owner HRH Prince Abdullah bin Musa’ad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud’s footballing advisor.

Although the opposition has been handpicked to provide a variety of different tests and challenges, Jokanovic could seek to make subtle adjustments to the programme in order to reflect his own modus operandi.