The England men's Test coach is expected to be former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum.
The 40-year-old has agreed to take the role and, subject to a contract being finalized, official confirmation could come by the end of the week.
The coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian premier league is likely to join the England cricket team.
Chris Silverwood left his position in February.
Rob Key, the new managing director, has split the England head coach position into Test and white-ball roles.
A close friend of England's captain, McCullum was initially approached over the white-ball post.
The challenge of reviving a team that has lost one of their past 17 matches is more appealing.
He impressed in interviews held on Monday and Tuesday of this week and has beaten off competition from former South Africa and India coach Gary Kirsten, who was thought to be favourite for the Test job.
While playing for New Zealand, he played 101 Tests and never coached in first-class cricket.
He began a resurgence in their Test cricket performance that led to them being crowned as the inaugural world champion last year, as well as leading the Black Caps to the 2015 World Cup final.
He has a penchant for attacking cricket, which could lead to an exciting partnership with new England Test captain Ben Stokes.
With Kolkata likely to go out of the IPL next Wednesday, it is possible that he could be in place for the first Test of the summer, against his home country New Zealand, at Lord's on 2 June.
Next week, the squad for that Test will be chosen.
The new white-ball coach will likely be spoken to again next week, as England are not as close to naming them.
The first engagement of the summer is not until a one-day series in the Netherlands on 19 June, so there is no pressure on the limited-overs boss to be named.
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