Villa are still on the lookout for a new manager after sacking Steve Bruce.
Sky Sports have claimed on their transfer centre (Monday, 15:19) that Belgium manager Roberto Martinez could become Aston Villa’s new manager – if Thierry Henry does not take the role.
Henry remains the frontrunner to take over from Steve Bruce after the Championship club opted to sack the promotion expert after two years in the role, following a 3-3 draw against Preston North End at home.
Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Millwall sees Villa sit in a lowly 15th place in the second-tier table, despite harbouring pre-season expectations of a promotion challenge after reaching the play-off final last season.
Henry, currently Martinez’s assistant at Belgium, is said to be leading the way to take over with Dean Smith, Rui Faria, Brendan Rodgers and Eddie Howe all linked, while Stiliyan Petrov and Dwight Yorke have applied for the role.
Martinez has admirers among Aston Villa’s bosses according to the report, which also states that Villa are expected to be looking for a new manager for the majority of the two-week international break.
Former Everton, Wigan Athletic and Swansea City manager Martinez has a contract with the Belgium national team until the summer of 2020, with the Mirror claiming he is earning just £16,000 a week with Belgium.
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