Aston Villa need to find a new manager and Paul Merson is backing a move for Frank Lampard, even if Steven Gerrard looks to be the favourite.
Dean Smith lost his job on Sunday afternoon having lost five Premier League games in a row.
Friday’s 1-0 loss at Southampton proved to be the end for Smith, and Villa will use the international break to find a replacement.
The Telegraph claim that Villa will make a move to appoint Rangers boss Gerrard.
However, the Daily Mail claim that Villa have also considered a move for Frank Lampard, who is out of work after leaving Chelsea earlier this year.
Merson on Lampard to Villa
Save the old discussion about Gerrard and Lampard playing in the same midfield, now they’re in contention for the same job!
Villa fans may not be enthused by Lampard. They beat his Derby side in the 2019 Championship play-off final and his second season at Chelsea was a disappointment.
However, former Villa ace Paul Merson has now backed Lampard as a great option for the Villa job.
Merson has told Sky Sports that Villa ‘have to’ consider Lampard after his work at Chelsea.
Merson particularly noted that Lampard worked well with Chelsea’s young players, and that would be ideal for Villa with their talented prospects.
“I think you have to put Frank Lampard’s name in the hat as well,” Merson said. “He’s managed Chelsea, where he did a great job in steadying the ship at the time. If you look at all the kids who have come through at Chelsea since, and then look at Aston Villa’s academy, it’s very good as well.”
“On Friday night, Dean Smith had five or six players from the academy in the squad for what was his final game. I would like to see a Frank Lampard or Steven Gerrard get the job,” he added.
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