Andre Villas-Boas and Mauricio Pellegrino enter West Brom frame

Former Liverpool coach Mauricio Pellegrino today emerged as a contender to replace Steve Clarke after Albion made contact with Martin Jol and Andre Villas-Boas.

The Baggies have begun sounding out possible candidates via agents with former Tottenham bosses Jol and Villas-Boas believed to be among the first men assessed.

And German coach Ralf Rangnick, who almost landed the job ahead of Clarke in 2012, is expected to be considered again.

Former Argentina international Pellegrino is also understood to be on the list of coaches the Baggies plan to speak to as they sift through their options at home and abroad.

The 42-year-old former centre-back coached under Rafa Benitez at Liverpool and Inter Milan before launching his own managerial career, taking charge of Valencia briefly and then moving to current club Estudiantes.

Albion seem unlikely to make a swift appointment with caretaker boss Keith Downing expected to take charge against Hull on Saturday and possibly keep the reins into the Christmas programme.

[polldaddy poll=7647074]

The Baggies hierarchy are currently taking early soundings from representatives of possible candidates, with the newly out-of-work pair of Jol and Villas-Boas among the easier figures to contact as both are now available to speak without the need for permission.

Face-to-face meetings with leading contenders are expected to be held over the coming days at Albion's London office near Mayfair.

Pellegrino is currently employed in his homeland and permission would be needed from Estudiantes for talks, meaning he is unlikely to be among the first men to be spoken to. He left Valencia after a brief spell in charge.

His Estudiantes side are currently ninth in the Argentine Primera Division.

Albion are expected to make contact with representatives of a host of coaches including Gianfranco Zola.