Former Swansea City boss Garry Monk is the frontrunner for the vacant manager's job at Derby County, reports the South Wales Evening Post. 

Monk was sacked by the Premier League side in early December as the Swans struggled at the wrong end of the table, despite leading the South Wales club to their best ever league finish the season prior.

Odds have tumbled on the 36-year-old to become the next manager at the iPro Stadium, falling from 16-1 to 4-1 in a matter of days.

Fellow Championship side Fulham wanted Monk to replace Kit Symons at Craven Cottage but the South Wales Evening Post understands he wanted a break from football at that time.

Derby sacked Paul Clement earlier this month after just eight months in charge, despite the Rams sitting in the play-off places, and have installed former head of academy Darren Wassall as interim manager until the end of the season.

He was given his marching orders after seven matches without a win, but HITC Sport understands one of the reasons for Clement's dismissal was that the former Chelsea and Real Madrid coach was reluctant to integrate the academy players into the first-team set-up.

Derby's under-21 side are flying this season and currently sit top of the U21 Premier League Division 2 table ahead of the likes of Arsenal and West Ham United, but players from the development squad weren't invited to train with the first team and Clement was rarely seen at the club's U21 matches which is said to have not gone down well with owner Mel Morris.

The Rams sit in 6th place in the Championship and face Brentford at Griffin Park this Saturday.

What do you make to the news Derby fans? Would you be happy with Monk as manager? Let us know in the comments section below!