Sunday, 27th March, 2011
Aston Villa are thought to be considering moving for former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez if they decide to part with Gerard Houllier at the end of the season.
Houllier has endured a poor spell at Villa since taking over from Martin O’Neill last summer and despite splashing out big money to buy striker Darren Bent from Sunderland in the January transfer window still sees the club mired in a relegation battle.
While American owner Randy Lerner is still believed to be broadly supportive of Houllier, there is an acceptance that the Frenchman has lost large sections of the club’s support, and a realisation that he has become deeply unpopular.
And Houllier could therefore bid farewell to Villa at the season’s end, with Spaniard Benitez being touted as a possible replacement.
Benitez is back in England at his home on Merseyside following an unsuccessful six-month stint as Inter Milan coach.
Keen to return to work in the Premier League after leading Liverpool between 2004 and 2010, Benitez may feel an offer from Villa is good enough given a return to his beloved Anfield looks unlikely, with Kenny Dalglish set to be handed that job on a permanent basis.
For Benitez the choice may come down to one between England and Spain, with both former club Valencia and Sevilla considered possible destinations for 2011/12.
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