From Portugal: Bruno Lage close to taking charge at Aston Villa

Ex-Benfica manager Bruno Lage is close to reinforcing Aston Villa, who saved themselves from relegation from the English Premier League on the final day of the season.

Sport TV report that Bruno Lage, 44, is close to moving to the English Premier League, set to be the man that eventually takes over from current Aston Villa manager Dean Smith in the coming weeks.

Lage has, it can be assumed, been in the sights of Aston Villa for a while now as they prepare for next season, but it is likely that he would have only agreed a move to the club if they maintained their place in the top flight of English football.

Now that their status has been confirmed, Lage is reportedly set to take over the team. Proving himself to be an ambitious manager, this could be a good fit for both parties.

Lage departed as Benfica manager after a run of just 16 points from 12 league games, a run that was in complete contrast to his extraordinary start at the helm of the Lisbon club.

Across his first 36 league matches in charge of Benfica, the club won 34 times, losing just once, while they were also incredibly free-scoring, finding the back of the net an extraordinary 114 times across those 34 games, averaging over three goals a game. By contrast, they conceded just 22.

He was also the manager that oversaw Benfica’s historic 10-0 victory over Nacional last season, the first time a side had won a game by ten goals in the top flight of Portuguese football since 1964.

This will not be Bruno Lage’s first stint in English football, having worked with Carlos Carvalhal at both Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea City.