RENE HAKE is being linked with a surprise return to English football with West Brom.
The former Man Utd coach has been out of work since leaving the Red Devils in November.
Hake was a part of Erik ten Hag‘s backroom staff at Old Trafford and joined the club last July.
The 53-year-old left his job as Go Ahead Eagles boss to help out his fellow Dutchman.
But he was left unemployed after Ten Hag got the boot following a dismal run of form, with Ruben Amorim taking over.
Hake has never managed a team outside of the Netherlands.
He has previously taken charge of Emmen, Utrecht, and FC Twente.
Accordint to BBC Sport, Hake is now in the running to replace Carlos Corberan at the Hawthorns.
Corberan left the Baggies before the festive period to take over at boyhood club Valencia.
The 41-year-old Spaniard helped lead West Brom to a 9th placed finish last season and had them in playoff contention again.
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Albion currently have Chris Brunt, Damia Abella and Boaz Myhill in temporary charge.
The trio are expected to be in the dugout for Saturday’s FA Cup third-round tie at Bournemouth.
West Brom’s next Championship game is at home against Stoke on January 18.
Baggies bosses are keen for the new manager to be in post by then as the club attempt to keep up their top-six push.
Blackburn head coach John Eustace and Swiss manager Raphael Wicky have also been linked.
Under Brunt, Abella, and Myhill, the Baggies have won just one of their last four games.
Brunt said: “Whatever the football club decide to do, I’ll keep preparing as much as I can with Abella and the coaching staff, Boaz [Myhill], sports science, medical.
“It’s been a real team effort and the lads deserve a couple of days off, especially at this time of year.
“They’ll have those, recharge themselves, and we’ve got a really tough cup tie coming up so if we’re still here, we’ll prepare as best we can.
“But first and foremost, I think the boys need a few days off to go and recharge, then we’ll regroup and see what happens.”
