Aston Villa have already made contact with Mauricio Pochettino, who is keen on returning to the Premier League.

The Lowdown: Pochettino speculation

Pochettino was first linked with a move to the Midlands at the end of August and again towards the end of September with Steven Gerrard struggling in his first full season at Villa Park.

The Telegraph revealed on Monday that Villa will make an ‘ambitious attempt to convince Pochettino to step back into management’, with Gerrard facing a pivotal week in charge.

They even claimed that a positive result against Fulham or Brentford may not be enough for Gerrard, and it looks as if NSWE are now officially working on a move for Pochettino.

The Latest: Contact made

Journalist Owen O’Brien took to Twitter shortly after The Telegraph’s update on Monday to share what he knows about the situation.

He said that Pochettino is Villa’s ‘number one choice’ to replace Gerrard, adding:

“Understand contact has already been made between Pochettino’s representatives and Aston Villa, and suggestions are that the 50 y/o is keen on returning to the PL.”

The Verdict: A coup

Should Villa decide to part ways with Gerrard, bringing in Pochettino could be viewed as a major coup by NSWE and Christian Purslow.

The Argentine likes to play an attacking 4-3-3 system and has plenty of experience at the highest level with both Tottenham and PSG. Pochettino also knows exactly what it takes to succeed in England, winning more than half of his 256 games in the Premier League.

Therefore, he could be the ideal man to come in at Villa Park, although with the club’s current struggles, it could be a tough sell for the board.