Aston Villa manager target Mauricio Pochettino is unlikely to replace Steven Gerrard as boss, according to talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook.

The Lowdown: Poch linked with job

On Thursday night, Gerrard was relieved of his duties after an insipid 3-0 loss away to Fulham, in a decision that felt like it had been coming for weeks.

Pochettino had been linked with taking charge at Villa Park even before the 42-year-old's sacking, with the club reportedly considering him a front-runner for the job.

Reports then revealed the Argentine had doubts over the squad's suitability to his high-intensity tactics, and a new update suggests that it may have all been wishful thinking on Villa's part.

The Latest: Unlikely...

Writing on Twitter, Crook revealed that Pochettino is holding out for a more prestigious job at a bigger club:

"AVFC owners have had reservations about Gerrard for a while and potential replacements have already been sounded out. Vibe is Poch is saving himself for something bigger."

The Verdict: Undoubted blow

This is a clear setback for Villa, with Pochettino someone who possesses undoubted pedigree, having excelled so much at Tottenham, guiding them to the 2019 Champions League final.

The former PSG boss would feel like a major coup if he came in but the lure of potentially being offered a Champions League job looks likely to sway his thinking.

The hope is that Pochettino could still come in and fill the Gerrard-shaped void but it could be that someone like recently-linked Thomas Frank is a more realistic option, providing a refreshing new outlook at Villa Park.