Aston Villa are on the lookout for a new manager and there is a rather familiar face in the contention to take over the club following the sacking of Dean Smith. Former Liverpool and England midfielder, a one-club man and an icon for the Anfield club, Steven Gerrard, is keen to take up the job and improve Villa’s fortunes after a shambolic start to the campaign.Steven Gerrard is set to tell Rangers he wants to leave the club to take the vacant position at Aston Villa. If Rangers are paid sufficient compensation, they will allow the ex-Liverpool captain to leave. [Football Insider]Would a move to Villa be a good next step for Stevie? pic.twitter.com/wuA8tFUMkX— Anfield Edition (@AnfieldEdition) November 9, 2021 Rangers FC are waiting for Aston Villa to make an official approach for their title-winning boss after the English club made background checks on Gerrard and his potential staff. The former Reds captain is ready to speak with the club if Rangers grant permission.Gerrard is under contract until 2024 at Ibrox and the new deal, signed in December 2019, includes a release clause of over $2.7 million. That amount will not be a problem for Villa’s wealthy owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens.##NAJAVA_MECA_5967301##Villa’s chief executive Christian Purslow told the players that the new manager would be appointed in time for the following Monday. The club want a big name and a strong character and want that individual to make Villa a challenging and intense environment for the players. Southampton’s boss Raphael Hassenhuttl and Belgium manager Roberto Martinez are also believed to be on the Villains’ shortlist.Gerrard playing against Aston Villa in 2014 (©AFP)Martinez is understood to be a realistic alternative if Villa fail to persuade Gerrard to succeed Dean Smith, who was sacked on Sunday after five defeats in a row – but the legendary Stevie G is still their number one target.Gerrard’s first coaching job was with Liverpool Under-18s in 2017, but he was quickly tempted into taking over a senior side in Scotland. Under his guidance, Rangers won their 55th Scottish league title under him last year – after a nine-year domination of their arch-rivals Celtic.
