5 ideal candidates to replace Garry Monk at Swansea City

In light of Garry Monk's highly anticipated and reportedly imminent dismissal, Swansea City has a bevy of options to replace the out-of-favour manager. Here are five candidates best suited for the top spot at the Liberty Stadium.

Brendan Rodgers

Another familiar face at the Liberty Stadium, an out-of-work Brendan Rodgers could be looking to rebuild his managerial career at the side he bossed from 2010-12.

Rodgers guided the Swans to Premier League promotion in 2011 and managed them in their first top-flight campaign, prompting a three-and-a-half-year contract extension. He took the gig at Liverpool following the sacking of club legend Kenny Dalglish in June 2012.

Employer of possession-based football during his time at Anfield, it's difficult to judge the Northern Irish gaffer solely on the lethal goal-scoring exploits of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge during the 2013-14 near-title season, given the club's general inability to hold a lead throughout the following year.

Graeme Jones

The bookmakers' odds-on favourite at time of typing, Roberto Martinez's understudy at Everton has been pegged to return to the Liberty Stadium after his tenure as an assistant to the Catalan gaffer from 2007-09. Jones has been approached three times by the club, but instead opted to follow Martinez from Wigan Athletic to his current gig at Goodison Park.

While not the glamorous choice, Jones might be best suited to take the managerial step-up at a club he's familiar with. There was also speculation he was poised to replace Michael Laudrup at Swansea in 2014.

A tale of two Liverpool's, with one vouching as much to Rodgers' credentials as the other, mated with doubts of his desire to return to a job the profile of Swansea's.

David Moyes

Just weeks after his sacking at Real Sociedad, former Everton and Manchester United manager David Moyes admits he's hungry to again boss a top-flight side.

Arguably the victim of two knee-jerk sackings at United and Sociedad, the Glasgow-born gaffer could be looking for a position that ensures some stability and job security, and Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins appears to be the patient type.

Not as focused on ball retention as most of his peers, Moyes is a reactive manager who takes pride in playing with width and creating goal-scoring opportunities. Ex-United centre-back Rio Ferdinand described his tactical approach as confused, however, saying, "He tried to impose a vision but never seemed to be completely clear what that vision should be."

Bookmakers posit Moyes as joint second-favourite for the gig with Rodgers, with the long-tenured Toffees boss desperate to repair a reputation tarnished by his last two appointments.

Sean Dyche

The Burnley crowd favourite has long been pegged for a gig at a higher-profile club following the Clarets' rise to the top flight.

After current Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe left Burnley in 2012, Sean Dyche took a squad treading water mid-table in the Championship to the heights of Premier League football in two seasons, all the while selling marquee players like Charlie Austin and Jay Rodriguez and refining others like Danny Ings.

Dubbed "the ginger Mourinho," Dyche would be a fitting candidate for the Swansea City position based on an honourable one season of top-flight football. The former Watford defender was praised for his organised tactics during the 2014-15 Premier League campaign, despite having a far barer cupboard to choose from.

Wild card: Nigel Pearson

Jenkins may have some apprehensions about hiring the controversial former Leicester City boss, though his impassioned style could suit a side sitting perilously close to the drop zone.

Nigel Pearson is the fiery and raucous antagonist to Monk's measured wit.

Rumoured to be in crowded contention for the top spot at Fulham following the sacking of Kit Symons, Pearson's efforts to stave off relegation during his second spell with the Foxes in 2015 were as considerable as they were remote.

Known for instilling belief in his players and for a solid defensive core coupled with quick counter-attacks, Pearson could be the ideal fit at the Liberty if the club are looking for the some spirit and spittle.