Sven-Goran Eriksson is reportedly fighting to hold on to his job as manager of Shanghai SIPG.
The former England boss led Shanghai to a third-place finish in the Chinese Super League, which ended last weekend, but his team were 12 points behind the champions Guangzhou Evergrande.
According to reports in China, the club's ambitious owners expected a stronger challenge for the championship and the Swede is now locked in talks as he battles to keep his job.
It is understood that Shanghai have already held talks with former Tottenham Hotspur boss Andre Villas-Boas, who is believed to have been in China earlier this week.
Eriksson famously managed the England national team between 2001 and 2006, and has since had spells with Manchester City, Mexico, Ivory Coast, Leicester City and Guangzhou R&F.