Graham Potter interviewed for vacant manager’s position at Swansea City

Graham Potter has been interviewed by Swansea City with a view to being appointed their new manager. The 43-year-old, who has enjoyed remarkable success with the Swedish club Östersund, held talks with Steve Kaplan and Jason Levien, Swansea’s majority shareholders, and is now the leading contender to take over at the Liberty Stadium.

Frank de Boer and Jaap Stam have also been interviewed for a position that became vacant after Swansea parted company with Carlos Carvalhal on Friday, in the wake of their relegation to the Championship. Although Brentford’s Dean Smith and Bristol City’s Lee Johnson have also come under consideration, neither is believed to be in the running as Swansea move towards appointing their fifth manager in 19 months.

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Potter is the standout candidate. He has spent the past seven years working in Sweden, where he has transformed the fortunes of Östersund, taking them from the fourth tier to the top flight in a story that has captured the imagination. He won the Swedish Cup with Östersund in 2017 and led the club to the last 32 of the Europa League earlier this year, knocking out Galatasaray, beating Hertha Berlin and drawing with Athletic Bilbao, before losing 4-2 on aggregate to Arsenal.

Although Potter has not managed outside Sweden, his work at Östersund is likely to appeal to Swansea at a time when they are looking to bring in a young and dynamic coach to re-energise a club that has lost its identity on and off the field.

De Boer has been in the frame for the manager’s position at Swansea before and the Dutchman, who has been out of work since being sacked by Crystal Palace early last season, would be prepared to work at Championship level. Potter, however, is the clear favourite.