Aston Villa have lined up Rangers boss Steven Gerrard to replace Dean Smith as manager at the Midlands outfit. While Gerrard is contracted to the Gers till 2024, Villa can acquire his services by paying a compensation fee (rumoured to be around £2.5m) to the SPL club.
Gerrard has enjoyed considerable managerial success at Rangers, having guided them to the league title last season, and is widely expected to return to his old club Liverpool when Jurgen Klopp steps down. Interestingly, both Klopp and Gerrard’s current contracts expire in the same year (2024), but the Villa job represents an easier way for Gerrard to return to the Premier League before potentially taking up the more higher profile Liverpool assignment down the line.
Villa are 16th in the table with 10 points from 11 games so far and were beaten 1-0 by Southampton before the break, a result that prompted the sacking of manager Smith.
Villa originally turned to Danish national coach Kasper Hjulmand, but he apparently wanted to continue his current assignment, forcing them to turn to Gerrard. Villa chief executive Christian Purslow is also well known to Gerrard from their time together at Liverpool, and the Midlands outfit are expected to announce their new manager before their first game after the international break against Brighton.
Also Get the very Latest Football Transfer News, Rumours and Gossip direct to your email.