• Former Argentina coach is the new favourite to succeed Garry Monk • Bielsa has been out of work since leaving Marseille in August

Marcelo Bielsa has emerged as the favourite to succeed Garry Monk, with the search for a manager taking the Swansea chairman, Huw Jenkins, to South America.

The former Argentina coach is a surprise contender to succeed Monk, who was sacked last week after a run of one win in 11 games, and is now set to hold talks with Jenkins.

The 60-year-old quit as the Marseille coach only one match into the season, following a 1-0 home defeat to Caen, and his dramatic resignation fitted his volatile reputation and his nickname of El Loco.

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He had joined Marseille at the start of the 2014-15 season when they led the Ligue 1 standings for much of the first half of the campaign before fading to finish fourth.

Bielsa, who was linked to Cardiff when Malky Mackay was sacked two years ago, has an impressive CV having coached Argentina at the 2002 World Cup and Chile at the 2010 finals. The Rosario-born coach also took Athletic Bilbao to the Europa League and Copa del Rey finals in 2013.

He was once described by Bayern Munich’s Pep Guardiola as the “best manager in the world” but his appointment would represent a risk for Swansea, who are above the teams in the relegation zone only on goal difference after Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Manchester City.

Bielsa does not speak English, has never managed in the Premier League and his colourful style of management may upset some players. He gives different parts of his squad separate training times and is known to measure pitches by pacing them out before deciding on a particular formation. He has lasted barely beyond two years at any of his former clubs in Argentina, Mexico and Spain, with his longer stints only coming in his international roles.

Jenkins’s primary concern is finding a coach who will provide a short-term fix and lead the club away from relegation, especially as anxiety over missing out on the £5bn Premier League television deal, which kicks in next season, played such a major part in Monk’s departure.

The Chile coach, Jorge Sampaoli, remains of interest and could also be the subject of a Jenkins’ visit to South America. While landing the 55-year-old who guided Chile to their maiden Copa América triumph in July would seem unlikely, Sampaoli has been unsettled in recent months after the head of the national federation, Sergio Jadue, pleaded guilty in the United States to Fifa corruption charges.

Sampaoli said in a statement last week that he is waiting until early next year to determine the direction of the Chilean federation before deciding his future.

Both Bielsa and Sampaoli favour an energetic and high-pressing game and that is something the Swansea board are keen to return to following the players’ lethargy towards the end of Monk’s 22-month reign.

The former Sunderland and Brighton manager Gus Poyet remains a possible candidate but the Uruguayan’s club, AEK Athens, insist he will remain in Greece until the end of his contract in the summer.

“We have not been approached by Swansea, there is no need for us to be approached and no propositions have been made from Swansea,” an AEK spokesman told BBC Wales. “Mr Poyet is happy at the club and will be our manager at least until the end of the season.”

Sevilla’s Unai Emery is also admired by the Swansea hierarchy but the board accept persuading the double Europa League winner to leave Spain would prove difficult, if not impossible.

Alan Curtis took charge at Manchester City and the caretaker manager will be in the Swansea dugout again for the home game against West Ham on Sunday if a new appointment is not made in time.