Hasset is the on the top, still.

I  would think Trump will select him.  For such positions,  what you really think and what you want to do matter more than anything else. Walsh's hope increased just because some big guys made some lobby work? As for the independence of the FED, Trump will think of selecting Hasset as a one-time influence, while it will lose control if he has someone else to fill the position, and he has to battle the FED again.