Former Rangers star urges Steven Gerrard to make Aston Villa decision
Former Rangers midfielder Brian Laudrup claims Steven Gerrard has 'unfinished business' in Glasgow
Former Rangers midfielder Brian Laudrup insists there’s ‘a number of issues’ with Steven Gerrard’s potential switch to Aston Villa.
Laudrup claims moving to the Midlands club in the middle of the season is unwise and that Gerrard still has ‘unfinished business’ at Ibrox.
Villa are currently searching for a new manager after sacking Dean Smith on Sunday following five successive Premier League defeats, and Rangers boss Gerrard is reportedly top of their shortlist.
An approach has yet to be made and former Denmark star Laudrup hopes should one arrive Gerrard will spurn it, in favour of chasing a domestic treble with the Glasgow club.
In his column for the Daily Mail, the former Gers midfielder said: "The first thing I would say about Aston Villa's interest in Steven Gerrard is the same as when he was linked with Newcastle.
"It's great for the image of Scottish football to have one of its managers being talked about for the English Premier League.
"Otherwise, though, I see a number of issues. If you look at the best managers in the world, it is quite rare for them to go to a team midway through the season.
"It's not unheard of. Look at Antonio Conte and Tottenham. But it is relatively rare.
"My brother, Michael, always said if you wanted to achieve something then you couldn't do it by coming into a job halfway through a season. You can't change that much, you don't have a pre-season to prepare things and you probably can't buy many of the players you want.
"It's definitely not a win-win situation. I'd be surprised if Gerrard went to Aston Villa at this point. I'd hope he would stay at Ibrox for the rest of this season.
"After that? If the interest from down south is still there, he might feel it is time to move on, accept a new challenge and get closer to his family. I can't see it right now, but I might be wrong. Only Gerrard knows.
"He has shown loyalty towards Rangers over his time in charge, but the club has also shown huge loyalty to him since first offering that chance to take his first step in management.
"Listen, Gerrard paid them back by delivering the title last season, but I still see unfinished business in the current campaign - another title, the Scottish Cup, the League Cup. There is a chance to get Rangers into the Champions League, with all the huge benefits it would bring to a club which last week posted a £23.5 million loss.
"There are so many things still in front of him for the next six or seven months. I'd like to think his focus will stay at Ibrox over that period."