Berhalter for Swans?

SWANSEA City are understood to be considering former USA boss Gregg Berhalter as one of their options for manager once Russell Martin departs.

The 49-year-old is a candidate likely to prove attractive to the Swans’ American hierarchy as they work out what to do post-Martin for the 2023-24 Championship campaign.

Martin is on the brink of joining Southampton, meaning Swansea’s US owners have to start putting in place a new plan for the future.

Former Brighton and Watford manager Oscar Garcia is also interesting the Swans, while former Swansea coach Chris Davies and Plymouth manager Steven Schumacher are seen as the early frontrunners with the bookmakers.

Davies worked as Brendan Rodgers’ No.2 with Swansea, also following him to Liverpool, Celtic and Leicester City.

Berhalter is a new name in the frame, although if he does eventually come on board the Swans will be hoping for better fortune than with their Bob Bradley experience.

Another former USA boss, Bradley lasted just 85 days in south Wales, having won just two of his 11 matches in charge before being replaced by Welsh football legend Alan Curtis on a temporary basis, then Paul Clement full-time.

Berhalter has good pedigree, taking the USA to the World Cup finals in Qatar where they reached the last 16 before succumbing 3-1 to a superior Netherlands outfit.

The Americans were unbeaten in the group stages, their opening game at the tournament being the 1-1 draw with Wales when a Gareth Bale penalty near the end rescued Rob Page’s team.

Berhalter’s USA side also drew 0-0 with England and then beat the Iranians in their final group game to seal a passage to the knockout stages.

They found the Dutch too strong at that point, were comfortably beaten and went home.

Berhalter has since been replaced as USA boss by his No.2 Anthony Hudson.

Previously Berhalter managed Swedish side Hammarby and MLS outfit Columbus Crew.

It was his work with the Ohiobased

team that saw Berhalter land the USA national job. Under his watch Columbus Crew reached the MLS play-offs four years in a row and also the cup final, where they went down to Portland Timber.

Swansea’s owners, and their new American chairman Andy Coleman, are still thrashing out a suitable compensation package with Southampton for the loss of Martin, who has a year to run on his contract, and his back room staff.

However, it is a matter of when, rather than if, Martin departs and the hunt for his replacement needs to begin in earnest.