Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola is being lined up as a potential replacement if Francesco Guidolin faces the sack, according to reports in Italy.

Guidolin has been highly linked with the axe after many issues during the Swans’ first five matches of the 2016/17 Premier League season.

Swansea have won once, drawn once and lost three times, with reports claiming that the players aren’t on the same wavelength as the Italian boss.

Also, defender Neil Taylor and midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng have had public spats with the manager, refusing to shake his hand whilst exiting the field as they were substituted.

Now, as the pressure mounts on Guidolin as he faces the daunting task of Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal in his next three games, Swansea are looking at replacements.

Zola – who was at the Liberty Stadium on Wednesday night – is fancied by chairman Huw Jenkins, despite a mixed career as a manager. He got relegated with West Ham in 2011, however led Watford to a play-off final in 2013. The Italian has been sacked from his last two jobs at Cagliari in Serie A and Al-Arabi in Qatar.