Report: Club resigned to losing coach to Aston Villa, but Purslow has some issues to solve

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Aston Villa are closing in on naming Steven Gerrard as their next manager after firing Dean Smith, with Rangers now resigned to losing the England icon, as per Birmingham Live.

The Villans sacked Smith on Sunday after a fifth-straight Premier League defeat left the club 16th in the table. They are also only two-points clear of the relegation zone after 11 games.

Villa CEO Christian Purslow soon identified Gerrard as his top target to take up the hot seat. The pair are well-connected from working together at Liverpool between 2008 and 2009.

Talks between Purslow and Rangers manager Gerrard over becoming the next Aston Villa boss have progressed well. The Birmingham outfit are likely to announce the 41-year-old’s arrival by the end of the week, with Villa paying the Gers around £4.5m in compensation.

Owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens are willing to sanction a high pay-out to ensure they get their man. The ball is now in Gerrard’s court to leave Scotland and return to England.

But Purslow and Gerrard do still have some issues to resolve before he could become the next Aston Villa manager. Mainly finalising the Liverpool legend’s backroom staff, while the Villa chief is also yet to confirm the transfer budget available.

Rangers, for their part, are resigned to losing Gerrard to Aston Villa, so are drafting shortlists of possible coaches. Gerrard may leave Ibrox with the Gers atop the Premiership.

Will the remaining hurdles stop Gerrard leaving Rangers for Aston Villa?

Potential issues in finalising his backroom staff and Purslow confirming the transfer budget available are unlikely to stop Gerrard leaving Rangers for Aston Villa, if he wants the job.

And the Daily Mail reported on Monday that replacing Smith at Villa Park would interest Gerrard. While his backroom team at Ibrox would also likely follow him to Birmingham.

What is potentially proving an issue, then, is Purslow agreeing compensation with Rangers for Gerrard’s staff to join Aston Villa. Ensuring the coach can keep working with assistants Tommy Culshaw, Gary McAllister, Michael Beale and Head of Performance Jordan Milsom.