Villa lining up Fonseca with Smith in danger

ASTON Villa have sounded out Paulo Fonseca as they consider potential replacements for underpressure 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. 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 subsequently spent two years at Roma, leaving in May. The 48-year-old was in talks with Spurs in the summer and, more recently, spoke to Newcastle about their vacancy. However, the Magpies’ new owners have spent the past week or so looking at other options, including Villarreal’s Unai Emery and Belgium boss Roberto Martinez.