Alexander Wang Appears as Leading Candidate for Balenciaga In the continuing Balenciaga drama, Alexander Wang appears to be the leading candidate to succeed the star designer Nicolas Ghesquiere, and an announcement of his appointment could be made as early as next week, a Paris source with knowledge of the discussions said on Wednesday night. There has been growing speculation that Mr. Wang, a popular New York designer, would be chosen for Balenciaga, which is owned by PPR. Calls to Mr. Wang and his spokeswoman were not returned on Wednesday night. Mr. Ghesquiere said two weeks ago that he would leave Balenciaga after 15 years. He thoroughly modernized the house and became one of the most influential designers in Paris, but indicated that, at age 40, he was eager for new challenges. If Mr. Wang is the choice for Balenciaga, he will bring a different perspective, certainly a strong urban sensibility. Although he likes to experiment on his New York runway, he is perhaps best known for his easy interpretations of street and athletic clothes, like sports jerseys, parkas and, of course, jeans and T-shirts. He sells his line in contemporary sections of stores like Bergdorf Goodman and Barneys, as well as in his own boutique in SoHo. He also has manufacturing connections in China. The choice of a designer like Mr. Wang, who has built a youthful following in New York and elsewhere, certainly suggests a different direction for Balenciaga. And for Mr. Wang, a move to Paris would allow him to expand his career.