Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly identified Julen Lopetegui and Bo Svensson as their top two targets for a new head coach.
Late on Sunday afternoon, the Premier League outfit confirmed that they had parted company with Bruno Lage after a disappointing start to the season.
Wolves have accumulated just six points from eight matches in the top flight, their fourth defeat coming to West Ham United by a 2-0 scoreline on Saturday evening.
As it stands, Steve Davis and James Collins, who work with the Under-18s and Under-21s, are currently helping the team prepare for Saturday's fixture at Chelsea.
However, Wolves are expected to be proactive in their search for a permanent alternative to Lage, and a number of high-profile names have already been linked with a switch to Molineux.
© Reuters
According to The Telegraph, club owners Fosun International may be prepared to make a second attempt to bring Lopetegui to the West Midlands.
The Spaniard had been in line to take over Wolves in the Championship back in 2016 before he was presented with the opportunity to manage his national team.
However, the current circumstances now appear to be in Wolves' favour with Sevilla allegedly considering sacking the 56-year-old over the next 48 hours.
The La Liga side have won just one of their nine games in all competitions this season, leaving Los Nervionenses just above the relegation zone in Spain's top flight and struggling to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League.
© Reuters
Although Lopetegui looks like the natural choice at this stage, it is claimed that Wolves are also assessing whether to move for Svensson.
The 43-year-old guided Mainz to eighth position in the Bundesliga last season, and although they sit in 13th spot this time around, Die Nullfunfer are just four points adrift of third-placed Bayern Munich.
Svensson, a former Denmark international during his playing days, is said to have been considered by Brighton & Hove Albion last month before they opted for Roberto De Zerbi.
Despite reports to the contrary, Wolves allegedly do not regard former Olympiacos boss Pedro Martins as one of their preferred options at this stage.
Darren Plant
