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.”
[freshpress-quiz id=”398332″]
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.
[freshpress-poll id=”399700″]
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.
