Aston Villa contact former Brighton boss Oscar Garcia to replace Steve Bruce

Bruce has arguably the strongest team in the Championship, with Aston Villa having spent in excess of £90million since their relegation from the Premier League last year.

But the 56-year-old, who replaced Roberto Di Matteo last October, has guided Villa to just one win in their seven league outings this season.

And Spanish outlet Sport claim Villa have contacted Garcia about replacing Bruce, with chairman Tony Xia desperate to get out of the Championship.

Garcia has previous experience in the Championship, having narrowly missed out on promotion with Brighton in the 2013/14 campaign.

The Spaniard took the Seagulls to the play-offs semi-finals, where they lost to Derby, before handing in his resignation.

He’s since enjoyed a two-year spell at Austrian outfit Red Bull Salzburg, where he won four honours, and has had an impressive start to life at Saint-Etienne.

Garcia took charge at Saint-Etienne in June and has guided the French club to fourth in Ligue 1 after winning three of their opening five outings.

Bruce, who has won promotion from he Championship on four occasions, recently played down Villa’s poor start to the campaign.

"At times like this you have stay strong and fight the flak,” Bruce said after Tuesday’s goalless draw to Middlesbrough. “There is no need for the hysteria. 

“We have made a bad start in regard to the points but I know for a fact that we will climb the table.

"We need something to turn our way. We have to stay positive and one day we will take the chances created."