Top managerial candidate Vahid Halilhodzic told Bosnia and Herzegovina daily Dnevni Avaz Tuesday that "Everything will be known by mid-March," when asked about responding to Japan's offer for the coaching job.
Halilhodzic, 62, made no further comment, it said.
Japan Football Association president Kuniya Daini has said that talks with Halilhodzic are progressing and he expects the Bosnian could be signed by March 12.
JFA technical director Masahiro Shimoda is handling the negotiations with Halilhodzic, who led Algeria to the round of the 16 at last summer's World Cup in Brazil.
Daini, who is attending the South American Football Confederation congress in Luque, Paraguay, said he spoke to Shimoda about the talks by phone on Sunday but has not been contacted since.