Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier is being lined up to take charge at Hamburg this summer, according to reports in Germany.
Huub Stevens announced before Christmas that he would be leaving at the end of the season to coach PSV Eindhoven.
The Rothosen's long search for a successor would now appear to be over as, according to Kicker, Houllier has held detailed negotiations with sport director Dietmar Beiersdorfer and chairman Bernd Hoffmann in recent weeks.
It is understood that Houllier is ready to quit his current post with the French Football Federation to return to club management.
Houllier's most recent management role was at Lyon, where he guided the team to two successive Ligue 1 titles.
