Rangers supervisor Steven Gerrard has emerged as Aston Villa's favored candidate to prevail Dean Smith.
Smith became relieved of his duties following Villa's loss at Southampton on Friday night - their 5th defeat in succession within the Premier League.
That result leaves Villa just two points above the drop quarter no matter a large summer time outlay on the likes of Emi Buendia, Leon Bailey and Danny Ings - although that turned into most effective after talisman Jack Grealish departed for Manchester City in a British-document £100m transfer.
Smith and Villa began the marketing campaign properly, securing wins over Everton and Manchester United, but their form dropped off dramatically and the reverse at St. Mary's became the final straw.
The membership's CEO Christian Purslow is main the search along with sporting director Johan Lange, and 90min is familiar with they had began looking at prospective applicants inside the weeks leading as much as Smith's sacking.
Roberto Martinez, Paulo Fonseca, Kasper Hjulmand, Graham Potter and Ralf Rangnick are all believed to had been discussed via Villa chiefs, but sources have advised 90min that Gerrard is their first choice.
Purslow knows Gerrard from his time at Liverpool, in which he became handling director between 2009 and 2010 and performed a prime position in making sure the former midfielder remained at Anfield.
It is believed that Villa's billionaire proprietors Nassef Sawiris and Wesley Edens are eager on a massive name, but the talent of the new supervisor is paramount, and Purslow believes Gerrard ticks every container.
Lange is also believed to approve of Gerrard, who has been with Rangers since 2018 and led them to the Scottish title ultimate season as they denied arch-opponents Celtic a 10th successive identify.
Gerrard has lengthy been linked with a return to Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp's successor, but the German is presently committed to the Reds till 2024 - simply because the former Reds captain is to Rangers.
