PAULO FONSECA is reportedly on Aston Villa’s radar with current manager Dean Smith under increasing pressure.
Smith is on the hot seat after four straight Premier League defeats have left Villa down in 15th in the table.
And reports say Fonseca could be the man to replace Smith if results don’t improve.
The 48-year-old is out of work after leaving Roma in the summer.
He has previously managed in Portugal at Porto and Braga, and at Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine.
But his time at Roma means ex-Manchester United stars like Chris Smalling and Henrikh Mkhitaryan could be on his transfer radar.
Both Smalling and Mkhitaryan still play for Roma under Jose Mourinho and could be tempted to move back to England.
Italy’s Euro 2020 star Leanardo Spinazzola could also join Fonseca if he moves to Birmingham.
The 28-year-old defender was signed by Fonseca at Roma two years ago.
Reports have also linked Aston Villa with signing River Plate winger Julian Alvarez.
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The 21-year-old has a high reputation and been dubbed ‘the new Lautaro Martinez’.
According to the Daily Mail, Villa’s owners have had an informal chat with Fonseca’s representative’s to see if he would be interested in taking on the job.
But despite the speculation surrounding Smith’s uncertain future, the Mail also claim that Villa’s supremo Christian Purslow is standing by the Brit – for now.
However, if results don’t improve Purslow is likely to change his stance and give Smith the boot.
Fonseca is in high demand by a host of sides so Villa will have to make a formal approach for him quite soon if they are serious about axing Smith.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
