Saint-Etienne boss Oscar Garcia has been linked with Aston Villa if Steve Bruce is sacked as manager, but what are the alternatives?
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce reacts after a near miss during the Sky Bet Championship match against Middlesbrough.
Steve Bruce is under pressure having guided Aston Villa to just one win from their seven Championship matches so far this season, leaving them 18th in the table.
Saint-Etienne head coach Oscar Garcia.
Garca reached the playoffs in the English second tier with Brighton and Hove Albion in 2013/14 and has since impressed during stints in Austria with Red Bull Salzburg and now in France, but what are the alternatives?
Here are three options.
Dean Smith
The Birmingham Mail reported that Smith was in the running to be the next Villans boss in October before Bruce was given the job and he would arguably still be a popular choice.
Ninth and tenth place finishes with Brentford over the past two seasons is impressive from the 46-year-old, plus he is a boyhood fan of the club.
Slavisa Jokanovic, manager of Fulham, before the Sky Bet Championship match against Cardiff City.
Slavisa Jokanovic
This would be the expensive choice as Jokanovic is under contract at Fulham until 2019 and according to football.london it would cost £5m in compensation to buy him out of that before then.
However, the 49-year-old is also well regarded in the division for his attacking style and guiding the Cottagers to the playoffs last term, having previously got Watford promoted in 2014/15.
Olof Mellberg
The left-field choice and by far the least experienced, but also someone the supporters hold close to their hearts after seven years as a player at Villa Park.
Mellberg is currently the manager of Brommapojkarna in his native Sweden and lead them to promotion from the third tier in 2016.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
