A new name has entered the conversation around Swansea City's manager search.
According to reports in Belgium, former Club Brugge boss Carl Hoefkens is the latest option to be considered by the Swans hierarchy, who are clearly already planning for life without Russell Martin.
Martin's move to Southampton has now dragged on into a third week, with the ongoing arm wrestle over compensation putting the brakes on the move to St Mary's - for the time being at least.
READ MORE: Swansea City linked with move for Belgian manager also wanted by Leicester City
Barring a spectacular U-turn of monumental proportions, Martin will eventually be named as the new Saints boss, and the search for his successor has already begun.
WalesOnline understands former Swans coach Chris Davies is, as things stand, the leading contender to take over, although he isn't the only option currently being considered.
A number of names have been mentioned in the last few weeks, with Hoefkens the latest to be put forward as a possibility, although there is purported competition from Leicester City.
Club insiders have already played down suggestions the Belgian could be in the frame, while sources in the east Midlands have indicated the likes of Dean Smith, Scott Parker and Enzo Maresca are more likely to be considered by the Foxes.
Hoefkens' representatives declined to comment when approached by WalesOnline.
At this moment in time, there has been no concrete indication that Hoefkens is currently a realistic contender for the Swans, or Leicester for that matter.
Nevertheless, given his exploits with Brugge, he might well hold some appeal to a new employer.
After calling time on a playing career that included spells at Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion, the 44-year-old worked his way up the coaching ladder at Club Brugge, starting as assistant manager for both the U21 and U18 sides, before becoming the first-team assistant manager in 2019.
The departure of Alfred Schreuder in 2022 saw him handed his first managerial job, where he'd go on to deliver the club's best-ever Champions League campaign.
Wins over Atletico Madrid, FC Porto and Bayer Leverkusen were enough to seal the club's first-ever appearance in the knockout stages of the competition, although he'd left his post by the time they locked horns with Benfica in the last 16.
A flailing domestic campaign left Brugge in fourth place in the league, although at the time of his dismissal, Hoefkens still had 10 league wins, four draws and four defeats.
Having only been in the role for seven months, many thought the club's decision to be harsh, and it certainly wouldn't be a surprise if he picked up another opportunity soon.
Despite his short tenure, many in Belgium noted his possession-based approach, which often relied on overloading the wide areas, as well as a high and aggressive defensive line.
On that basis alone, the links with Swansea perhaps make sense, although there's no question that he would have to add a couple of new recruits if he is to maintain that style of football in SA1.
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