Norwich City are set to appoint Dean Smith as the club’s new head coach after reaching a ‘verbal agreement’ with the former Aston Villa boss.
The Canaries sacked Daniel Farke last week despite winning their first league match of the season hours prior.
As for Aston Villa, they relieved Smith of his duties a day later after the Midlands club suffered their fifth loss in a row against Southampton.
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Smith was not a target for Norwich due to his employment with Villa, but his dismissal made him their unanimous first choice to replace Farke.
And The Athletic have reported that the 50-year-old will put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half-year deal at Carrow Road. He will bring Craig Shakespeare in as his assistant boss.
An announcement from Norwich is now expected ‘in the next 24 hours’.
The report adds that Smith was contacted by the Premier League’s bottom club immediately after he left his role as Villa head coach.
Norwich have a verbal agreement with Dean Smith to become their new head coach. Plan is a 2.5yr contract. 50yo was contacted by #NCFC immediately after leaving #AVFC on Sunday & emerged as 1st + unanimous choice. With @michaeljbailey for @TheAthleticUK https://t.co/wv8gf15hzC
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) November 13, 2021
On Saturday, it was revealed that the recently departed Villans boss would be announced within 48 hours – with The Athletic now saying confirmation will be posted sooner.
Smith guided the Midlands outfit back to the Premier League in 2019 after their play-off final win against Frank Lampard’s Derby County.
Villa survived in their first season back in the top flight, and the Norwich hierarchy will be hoping for a similar outcome under the 50-year-old’s leadership this term.
Steven Gerrard replaced Smith at Villa, leaving Rangers after just over three years at Ibrox. Giovanni van Bronckhorst has emerged as the leading candidate to replace the Liverpool legend.
Van Bronckhorst spent three years at the club during his playing career, winning two Scottish league titles during his time in Scotland.
Rangers have held “positive” talks with the former Holland captain, according to Sky Sports.
Van Bronckhorst’s first managerial role was with Feyenoord after spells as their assistant manager and Under-21 boss.
The 46-year-old spent four years in charge of the Eredivisie club – winning two Dutch Cups, two Dutch Super Cups and a single league title in 2016/17 – Feyenoord’s first in 18 years.
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