Aston Villa have made exploratory contact with former Roma boss Paulo Fonseca with a view to him replacing Dean Smith as manager.
That’s according to the Daily Mail, who suggest that Smith is on borrowed time at Villa Park.
Sunday’s 4-1 defeat to West Ham United means Smith has now lost four in a row.
Despite bringing in the likes of Leon Bailey, Emiliano Buendia and Danny Ings, Villa are struggling this season.
Smith may now have taken Villa as far as he can take them, and Villa appear to be planning for life without him.
Fonseca is now believed to be a target for Villa having been linked with Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur in recent weeks.
The Portuguese boss is looking to get back into management after leaving Roma at the end of last season.
An attack-minded manager who won three league titles in a row at Shakhtar Donetsk, Fonseca could be just what Villa want if they do move on from boyhood fan Smith.
Villa wanted Fonseca three years ago
Some Villa fans may remember Fonseca being linked with the job back in 2018.
Villa had parted ways with Steve Bruce and were looking to make a big appointment.
The Birmingham Mail claimed that Villa were looking for agent Jorge Mendes to give them a shot at Fonseca, but Smith got the job instead.
More than three years on, Villa seem to be back in the hunt for Fonseca.
The Mozambique-born coach appears to have real admirers at Villa Park, and they haven’t forgotten about him.
With moves to Newcastle and Tottenham now unlikely – despite him wanting the Newcastle job according to The Times – Villa could be the perfect route for Fonseca to take into English management.
Smith now finds himself under huge pressure ahead of the trip to Southampton, desperately needing a win.
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