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With only three months left of the 2018/19 campaign, it seems as if Sky Bet Championship side Middlesbrough are preparing for life after Tony Pulis despite the club sitting in the play-off places.
Reports from TEAMtalk claim that the North East club are set to replace the Welshman with club legend Jonathan Woodgate in the summer, if Boro do not secure promotion to the Premier League this season.
The latter needs no introduction to the Riverside having featured over 100 times for his hometown club over three different spells with the club, and he has also been in the first-team coaching staff since the arrival of Pulis.
It is believed that Pulis is one of the highest-paid players outside of the Premier League, but if Boro were to appoint Woodgate, it would suggest that no compensation would have to be paid.
It would be a managerial appointment that would raise eyebrows - Woodgate may be a club legend, but he is yet to step into management, and hasn't got any experience as of yet.
If Boro are contemplating sacking Pulis, then here, we take a look at three perfect replacements for Pulis...
[snack_break title="Slavisa Jokanovic"]
The first name that immediately springs to mind is Slavisa Jokanovic.
The 50-year old has been out of work since he was sacked by Fulham at the start of the season, despite winning promotion with them last season via the play-offs.
Boro fans have criticised Pulis for his style of football, but this appointment would certainly erase those problems. Jokanovic is known for his attractive brand of football, and has experience of getting out of this division.
He would be a perfect appointment.
[snack_break title="David Wagner"]
Wagner is another manager who would be a good appointment for Boro.
The German is known for his time at Huddersfield Town, where he steered the Yorkshire club away from relegation to League One, and won promotion to the Premier League the year after, which was seen as a huge achievement.
He then kept them up in the top flight last season after a tough campaign, but ultimately ran out of steam this season.
He's clearly a very good manager and could be ideal for Middlesbrough.
[snack_break title="Carlos Carvalhal"]
Carvalhal is another name that would offer Boro some real experience and quality on the ball.
The 53-year old, in his first managerial stint in England, took Sheffield Wednesday to the play-off final in the 2015/16 campaign, but his side were defeated by Hull City in the final.
He endured a tough time towards the latter stages of his tenure at Hillsborough, and also found it hard to transform Swansea City's fortunes last season as the Welsh club were relegated from the Premier League.
But all in all, he is an experienced manager who would inject new life into the Riverside.
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