MAURICIO POCHETTINO is favourite to replace Steven Gerrard as Aston Villa manager.
That’s according to bookmakers Betfair, who’ve installed Pochettino as the clear frontrunner to be appointed at Villa Park.
Gerrard’s future in the Midlands is looking increasingly uncertain.
The club have collected just nine points from their opening ten matches, and sit in 16th position – one point above the relegation zone.
Villa were in exactly the same position in the table when Gerrard succeeded Dean Smith in November 2021.
Goals have been an issue under Gerrard despite a wealth of attacking talent including Danny Ings, Leon Bailey and Philippe Coutinho.
The side have managed just seven goals in the 2022-23 campaign, only Wolves have scored less.
Villa have the eighth highest wage bill in the Premier League, and have spent £270million since 2020 but find themselves sleepwalking into a relegation scrap.
Betfair odds
The Telegraph claim it’s a ‘pivotal week’ for the manager, but even a result against Fulham or Brentford may not be enough to save him.
That’s perhaps why Betfair make Gerrard the 1/9 favourite to be the next top-flight manager to be relieved of his duties.
And if he’s axed, reports suggest that Villa will make an ambitious attempt to convince Pochettino to step back into management.
The Argentine, 50, has been a free agent since being sacked by Paris Saint-Germain in July.
He had planned to wait until after the World Cup to decide his future, and recently rejected Nice in favour of waiting for a ‘big European job’.
Elsewhere Thomas Tuchel is next in the betting at 3/1, although it’s believed the German is interested in succeeding Gareth Southgate as England boss.
Former Arsenal boss Unai Emery is next at 6/1, ahead of Southampton’s Ralph Hasenhuttl at 14/1, and Marcelo Bielsa and Sean Dyche at 16s.
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