Paulo Fonseca's move to Tottenham Hotspur is now off with Gennaro Gattuso set to become the club's new head coach, football.london understands.
The favourite for the hotseat after previous links with Mauricio Pochettino and Antonio Conte, the 48-year-old looked set to be named as Jose Mourinho's replacement after agreeing a deal with Spurs.
However, the situation changed on Thursday following Gattuso's exit from Fiorentina after only 23 days in Florence and the former Italy international is now in line to instead take over at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Gattuso was Fabio Paratici's preferred choice at Juventus prior to his exit last month but Spurs' new managing director of football has now made his move for the 43-year-old after a morning of change at Fiorentina.
Missing out on the chance to bring Pochettino back to north London 18 months on from his exit, Tottenham then switched their attentions to appointing Conte but a move was called off despite holding talks with the ex-Chelsea boss.
That saw Fonseca become the top choice for the role but the situation has now changed despite the Mozambique-born coach looking set to sign on the dotted line in N17.
Calling time on his playing career in 2013 after a short spell with Swiss side Sion after such a successful time at AC Milan, Gattuso has managed the likes of Palermo, Pisa, Milan and Napoli since moving into the dugout.
Finishing in seventh with Napoli in his first season in charge, the Italian looked to have guided his team to a Champions League spot last month only to miss out on the final day of the term.
Departing Naples after missing out on the top four, Gattuso was appointed as Fiorentina boss two days later but his exit from the Stadio Artemio Franchi was confirmed on Thursday morning amid reports over a dispute over transfers.
"ACF Fiorentina and Mister Rino Gattuso, by mutual agreement, have decided not to follow up on the previous agreements and therefore not to start the next football season together," said Fiorentina in a statement.
"The Company immediately set to work to identify a technical choice that will guide the Viola team towards the results that Fiorentina and the City of Florence deserve."
Now on course to become Mourinho's successor after a two-month wait, Gattuso will start life at Tottenham with a Premier League opener against Man City on August 14.
