EXCLUSIVE: Aston Villa line up a move for Paulo Fonseca with Dean Smith on borrowed time after four straight defeats – with ex-Roma boss having previously interested Newcastle and Tottenham
- Aston Villa have sounded out Paulo Fonseca as a replacement for Dean Smith
- The Villa boss is under pressure with the club enduring a four-game losing run
- They have made informal contact with former Roma boss Fonseca over the job
- Fonseca has recently been linked with the Newcastle and Tottenham vacancies
Aston Villa have sounded out Paulo Fonseca as they consider potential replacements for under-pressure boss Dean Smith.
Sportsmail understands that informal contact has been made with the representatives of the Portuguese coach and sources believe Smith is on borrowed time after four straight losses.
The word out of Villa Park last week was that the hierarchy, led by chief executive Christian Purslow, remain supportive of the manager. But the contact with out-of-work Fonseca indicates that candidates are being explored in the event of Smith going.
Aston Villa have made informal contact with former Roma manager Paulo Fonseca
The Villans are enduring a four-match losing run and they are sliding down the table
Villa have fallen to 15th in the Premier League and are three points above the relegation zone after their run of defeats, the latest being Sunday’s 4-1 loss at home to West Ham.
There is a feeling among some supporters that the head coach has taken the team as far as he can after three years in charge. They travel to Southampton on Friday in the last match before the international break.
Fonseca was linked with Villa before Smith took over in October 2018. He was then the boss of Shakhtar Donetsk and spent two years at Roma, leaving in May.
The 48-year-old was in talks with Spurs in the summer and spoke to Newcastle about their vacancy. But the Magpies’ new owners are looking instead at Villarreal’s Unai Emery and Belgium boss Roberto Martinez.
They want to appoint a new boss before the trip to Brighton on Saturday.
Pressure is growing on Dean Smith with fans fearing he has taken the club as far as he can
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