Former West Brom flop linked with surprise return to EFL with Championship rival

Valerien Ismael flopped at West Brom and spent just 31 games at the club before being axed.

He went on to have short stints at Beskitas and Watford - and has been out of work since being sacked by the Vicarage Road club last season.

However, he could be set for a surprise return.

Ex-Wolves boss Gary O'Neil had been strongly linked with the vacant managerial position at Blackburn Rovers, after John Eustace left to join struggling Derby County.

However, according to reports, O'Neil is not in the running but the ex-Baggies boss is.

On Wednesday, reports stated that Ismael, former Middlesbrough and Birmingham City boss Aitor Karanka and Pep Lijnders, who served as assistant manager to Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, are all set to be interviewed.

If Ismael was to land the role it would be his fourth job in the Championship.

He made his name in England at Barnsley, leading them to the play-offs. Albion then paid a sizeable compensation package of £2m, after Ismael was chosen for the job by former chief executive Xu Ke.

And he got off to a flyer at West Brom, as he went unbeaten in his first ten games.

However, they would go on to win just six of his next 19 games, and Ismael was axed with Albion still in the play-off places.