Aston Villa to target Mauricio Pochettino if Steven Gerrard gets sacked after crucial double-header – Paper Round

Villa’s ambitious Poch bid Aston Villa will attempt to lure Mauricio Pochettino to Villa Park if the club decide to part ways with Steven Gerrard in the coming weeks, the Telegraph reports. Villa are 16th in the Premier League table, one point above the relegation zone, after picking up just two wins in their opening 10 league games.

They face Fulham away on Thursday and Brentford at home on Sunday, two matches which could decide Gerrard’s fate, and if the former Rangers boss is dismissed then Villa will have an ambitious top target in Pochettino, the ex-Tottenham manager who left Paris Saint-Germain at the end of last season. Ad Premier LeaguePotter salutes Kepa's 'fantastic level' in 'ugly' win over struggling VillaYESTERDAY AT 18:49 Paper Round’s view: From coaching Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar to overseeing the side at their most dangerous when Douglas Luiz is taking a corner.

It would be some move for Villa to land Pochettino, but firstly it depends on whether Gerrard can turn around their fortunes. If he can’t, then it would be time for Pochettino to weigh up his options.

Overlooked by Manchester United, unlikely to ever take charge of Arsenal or even Chelsea, is there a Big Six role available in the next few years for Poch that isn’t a Spurs return? If he actually wants to return to England, maybe Villa are among his best bets after all, although he may well hope Eddie Howe has a downturn in form at Newcastle instead. ** Brentford plan Frank talks Staying with Premier League managers, and also the Telegraph, the paper reports Brentford have opened contract extension talks with Thomas Frank.