RANGERS manager Steven Gerrard is one of the favourites to take over from Dean Smith at Aston Villa.
The Villans are reportedly looking to pay as little as £3million in compensation to the defending Scottish Champions.
Villa chief executive Christian Purslow allegedly now has all of the ‘comfort he needs to assure Villa’s billionaire owners that Gerrard and his coaching staff will be willing to make the move south’.
And he could bring main man Ryan Kent back to England to play in the Premier League for him.
The Englishman started his career at Liverpool, where he made just one first-team appearance.
But Kent has since made a name for himself in Scotland, showcasing his blistering pace and eye-catching technical ability.
Gerrard’s former England team-mate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is also being linked with a move to Villa Park to reignite his career.
The former England International, 28, has struggled with injuries in recent years – bringing his Liverpool career to a grinding halt.
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He has managed to get a few appearances under his belt in recent weeks in both the Premier League and the Champions League – but once Thiago returns to full fitness he could struggle to keep his place.
The World Cup is just around the corner too, and he’ll undoubtedly want to try and make a late surge into Gareth Southgate’s squad.
Appointing Gerrard as the new Villa manager could come with a tactical switch.
The 41-year-old favours the 4-3-3.
Chamberlain could slot into a three-man midfield alongside John McGinn and Douglas Luiz.
Kent would most likely operate out wide on the left-hand side.
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