Michael Laudrup
Laudrup is the leading contender to replace Villas-Boas.

Swansea City manager Michael Laudrup is the leading contender to replace Andre Villas-Boas at Tottenham Hotspur, with the Portuguese boss odds-on to leave White Hart Lane.

Spurs' 6-0 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday was their heaviest for two decades and leaves the north Londoners eight points behind leaders Arsenal in the Premier League.

The Guardian reports that the Tottenham hierarchy are considering their options after 16 months during which time the club have failed to progress.

Tottenham relinquished a seven-point advantage over the Gunners in the final two months of last season in pursuit of the final Champions League place in Villas-Boas' first campaign in charge and have already fallen behind their local rivals after four league defeats this term.

Villas-Boas' side host champions Manchester United on Sunday and the result could have huge significance over the manger's future.

Amid the sale of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid for a world record £85m, Villas-Boas has been unable to manage the transition following the Welshman's departure with any assurance, also failing to integrate seven new signings into the first team.

The club broke their transfer record three times to sign Paulinho, Roberto Soldado and Erik Lamela but have yet to produce the results, nor performances to reflect their substantial investment.

Only bottom two Sunderland and Crystal Palace have scored fewer goals than Tottenham in the Premier League this season, having netted just nine times in 12 games.

However, the nature of the performances against Arsenal, Chelsea and City - all of whom are expected to represent challengers for the league title and Champions League qualification - will be of greatest concern to Tottenham supporters.

Tensions between Villas-Boas and supporters have been frayed since the manager chose to criticise the fans after they showed insufficient passion during the 1-0 win over Hull City last month.

Tottenham have already secured qualification for the knock-out phase of the Europa League after four successive group wins and Villas-Boas will be seeking much needed respite on Thursday against Tromso ahead of a packed December schedule during which the club face nine games in 29 days.

While Villas-Boas has become the odds-on favourite to become the next Premier League managerial departure, Swansea boss Laudrup has been installed as the leading contender to take over.

The Dane guided the Swans to their first-ever major trophy last season after beating Bradford City 5-0 in the League Cup final, and has taken his side to within a win of reaching the Europa League knock-out phase.

Laudrup threatened to leave the Liberty Stadium in the summer after falling out with club chairman Huw Jenkins regarding transfers but the pair's relationship is said to have been rebuilt after nine new players arrived in the off-season.

The ex-Barcelona player is regarded as one of the most promising managers in Premier League and along with producing the most eye-catching football in the top flight he has operated shrewdly in the transfer window; factors which make him an attractive proposition to Spurs.