Norwich City first team coach Narcis Pelach has been granted permission to discuss the head coach vacancy at Championship rivals Stoke City.

The Potters confirmed the departure of Steven Schumacher early Monday morning and have identified Pelach as a prime candidate to take over.

Norwich are believed to have received an official request later on Monday morning, with Pelach and his advisors now free to hold talks.

The Canaries would be due compensation for the 36-year-old, and would look to bring in a replacement from outside the club to join Johannes Hoff Thorup's backroom team.

The Daily Telegraph’s John Percy reported initial news of the approach, with current Norwich goalkeeping coach, Paul Clements, also potentially joining Pelach in the Potteries if an agreement is struck.

Both were part of David Wagner’s staff inherited by Danish head coach Thorup in May 2024.

Pelach arrived in Norfolk in May 2023, after a three year stint at Huddersfield which included helping the Terriers reach a Championship play-off final as part of Carlos Corberan’s set-up.

The Spaniard made no secret of his own managerial ambitions in an exclusive interview with the Pinkun, a few months after moving to Carrow Road.

"I'm not afraid to say that (I want to be a head coach) because I always say that if I give my all and my best, then if I don't achieve, I won't feel embarrassed,” he said.

"I have always said that I want to arrive at the top level. I have never got the chance to be in the first division of any country and I would like to achieve that in England because I arrived four years ago and it felt like home. I like the country and the football.

"I would like to be in the Premier League as an assistant coach and I hope for that to be here. This is one of my dreams.

"Then, in years to come, I want to become a head coach but I don't have rules. I am just 35. I want to be ready. I want to learn more. I want to enjoy this part as well."

Schumacher only took over in December 2023, after guiding Plymouth to the second tier, but departed after the weekend’s 1-0 away league defeat at Oxford.

Stoke sporting director, Jon Walters, told his club’s official site the time was right for a change.

“My role as sporting director is to make tough decisions that serve the long-term interests of Stoke City.

“After ongoing discussions with John Coates, we feel the time is right for a change in direction to bring success to the club.

“We have a young, dynamic squad that is eager to develop and a clear vision of how to achieve success, and we hope to announce a new appointment shortly. We will need the fans, staff, and players united in support to achieve our goals.

“As always in football, these decisions are difficult, and we wish Steven and his staff all the best for the future.”

Alex Morris and Ryan Shawcross will take caretaker charge ahead of Stoke officials making a permanent appointment. Stoke have a home League Cup tie against Fleetwood on Tuesday night.

Former Norwich defender, Ben Gibson, joined the Potters in the summer on a free transfer. His new club beat Coventry City 1-0 on the opening weekend of the Championship season, and won 1-0 at Schumacher's old club in August, but the Oxford weekend loss was a third league defeat of the campaign.

Thorup brought fellow Dane, Glen Riddersholm, with him in the summer as his assistant head coach. Following the departure of set piece coach Andy Hughes to Leicester City, Norwich also appointed Nick Stanley as a first team and set piece coach, after his five-year spell on the south-coast at Brighton as a set play coach.