Swansea City expect to appoint Paul Clement as their new manager after finalising his release from Bayern Munich over the weekend.
The Swans crashed to a fourth successive defeat – a 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth on Saturday – but it appears that Clement has not been put off by their position at the bottom of the Premier League table.
Clement, the former Derby boss and current Bayern assistant, has been in talks with Swansea over the last 24 hours to become the club’s third manager of the season.
It appears he has agreed to move to the Liberty Stadium and it’s understood Bayern will not stand in his way after an official approach is made to the German club this weekend.
Clement and former Birmingham City manager Gary Rowett have been the front-runners since interest cooled in Wales manager Chris Coleman and former Manchester United assistant Ryan Giggs.
Caretaker manager Alan Curtis oversaw the New Year’s Eve defeat, which sees the club end 2016 bottom of the Premier League following a four-game losing streak.
Bob Bradley was sacked after the 4-1 loss to West Ham on Boxing Day, and Curtis – who is in his third temporary spell in charge of the club – explained why a quick appointment is vital.
“A new manager would probably lift the place,” said Curtis, following the defeat to Bournemouth. “It looks as if it needs a new face, somebody with fresh eyes to look at it. Obviously the window is open tomorrow and I think we need the boost of a few players.
“We’ve got another big game on Tuesday. We know that we’re in a league of probably four or five of us, we have to finish outside the bottom three of that group.
“We’re not totally cast adrift but it’s obviously going to be very difficult between now and the end of the season.”
Asked whether he will be in charge for Swansea’s trip to Crystal Palace on Tuesday, Curtis said: “I don’t know. We’ll train tomorrow on the basis of preparing the team.
“It’s a crisis of confidence.
“I think the first goal again was crucial. Once we concede, the confidence drains from us. The explanation for that is that we’re bottom of the table, conceding too many goals, and not scoring enough ourselves.
“In the second half, we did a little bit better. But Bournemouth were excellent. They did to us, what we used to do to other teams.”
By the end of another desperate home defeat, the fans had again turned on chairman Huw Jenkins and well as Swansea’s American owners.
Curtis admitted that stopping the crisis and avoiding relegation will be tough. Only West Brom, in 2005, have managed to stay up with 12 points at the halfway stage.
Swansea now face Palace and Curtis added: “There could be a new manager at the helm by then. If not, we just have to prepare as usual. It is day by day at the moment.
“I will try and catch up with the chairman later and see what the situation is.”
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe said: “We were very clinical in front of goal and I was very happy that we kept a clean sheet.
“I think I seem to say the same every week about Jack and his influence. Off the ball, he worked very hard and he was tireless in his ability to minimise their threat. I was delighted with his contribution.
“We are yet to consolidate a run, but the players have the ability to produce very good performances. This league is incredibly difficult. One defeat can have you looking nervously over your shoulder.
“I have so much admiration for Swansea and they have been on a very similar journey to ourselves. I sincerely hope they get out of trouble.
“We must make sure we continue to do the right things, otherwise that could be us.”
