Ranko Popovic, who will leave FC Tokyo at the end of this season, is set to be appointed manager of Cerezo Osaka for the 2014 campaign, soccer sources said Friday.

Popovic is in the final stage of negotiations, and if all goes to plan he will be formally named Cerezo boss in the coming days.

The 46-year-old Serb, who has previously managed Oita Trinita and Machida Zelvia, took over at Tokyo last year.

Tokyo is currently seventh in the J. League top flight with two games left to play.

Cerezo are fourth in the standings under Brazilian manager Levir Culpi, who will leave at the end of the campaign.

Cerezo also had former Japan midfielder Hiroshi Nanami down as a candidate to succeed Culpi, but the two sides never entered serious negotiations.