Mauricio Pochettino is keen on a return to the Premier League amid talk of a new manager arriving at Aston Villa, according to journalist Dean Jones.
The Lowdown: Gerrard under pressure
The Villans were beaten 2-0 at home to Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, with Mason Mount’s double securing all three points for the visitors.
The result has heaped further pressure on Steven Gerrard, with his team making a poor start to the season and now sitting 16th in the table.
With the 42-year-old subjected to “sacked in the morning” chants by both sets of supporters at Villa Park yesterday and amid reported in-house talks of a possible sacking, there is no denying that he is hanging by a thread at the moment, and Pochettino is one man who has been linked with replacing him.
The Latest: Jones talks up Pochettino prospects
Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones admitted that the Argentine is interested in a return to the Premier League and that Villa should consider a move for him if they dispense with Gerrard.
The journalist stated:
“While Pochettino is out there with an interest in returning to the Premier League it would be pretty strange not to consider that as a good next option. That’s a boss who has high expectations but with a strong background too in managing elite players.”
The Verdict: Perfect potential replacement
Pochettino’s stock has admittedly fallen a little after a forgettable spell at Paris Saint-Germain, but he is a top-class manager who excelled with Spurs, guiding them to the 2019 Champions League final and consistently keeping them in the Premier League’s top four.
If Gerrard is to be sacked, the 50-year-old should be viewed as a primary candidate to come in, given his pedigree as a manager and the fact that he has proven his worth at the highest level in England.
The hope is that Gerrard can turn things around, though, with the 42-year-old possibly still being trusted to take Villa out of their current slump and prove that he is up to the job.