Watford are set to appoint Nigel Pearson as their new head coach on a deal until the end of the season.

The former Leicester City boss has been the short-priced favourite all day to become Watford’s new head coach after being interviewed for the vacancy.

The Times reported overnight the 56-year-old was “under consideration” to replace Sanchez Flores and claims he met Hornets officials yesterday.

We understand talks with Pearson have progressed and he is expected to sign an initial short-term deal until the end of the current campaign.

It is also thought Pearson will look to bring in his former Leicester assistant Craig Shakespeare to work as his number two again.

Pearson knows what it takes to escape deep trouble in the Premier League, having guided Leicester City to safety in 2015 after they were firmly at the basement at Christmas.

The former Southampton, Hull City and Derby County manager’s most recent post was with Leuven in Belgium, where he was sacked in February.

Interim boss Hayden Mullins will take charge of the Hornets for a second time tomorrow against Crystal Palace by which time the appointment of the new permanent boss may have been confirmed.

The appointment of Nottingham-born Pearson would mark a significant shift for the Hornets hierarcy, who have also held talks with Chris Hughton and Paul Clement among others about the position, given their usual policy of employing foreign head coach.