Former Dutch international midfielder Arie Haan could become China's new coach, he told a German newspaper on Wednesday.
"The matter is reaching an advanced stage. There's only a few details we still need to discuss," Haan told the Stuttgarter Nachrichten daily.
The 54-year-old was appointed to coach African champions Al Ahlihas this summer. He has also coached at Austria Vienna, Feyenoord and Greek club PAOK Salonika.
In Germany, he was coach at first division clubs VfB Stuttgart and FC Nuremberg. He left his job as sports director at regional club Stuttgarter Kickers on Monday.
"I do not want to be telling myself in two or three years time, 'You idiot, why didn't you take up this offer?'" Haan said.
Haan played for the Netherlands in the finals of both the 1974 and 1978 World Cup tournaments.
Haan would replace Yugoslav trainer Bora Milutinovic, who steered China to their first World Cup finals earlier this year.