Aston Villa hope to appoint their new manager by the start of next week and look set to choose between Paul Lambert and Roberto Martinez.
Martinez's advisors spoke with Villa at the end of last week before the Wigan boss flew to America to hold talks with Liverpool's owners over the vacant position at Anfield.
But Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers now appears to be the new favourite to take that job and it is understood Martinez is now willing to push ahead with Villa talks - 12 months after he rejected the post.
But the delay in any possible deal while he spoke to the Reds means Norwich manager Paul Lambert is also now on Villa's radar.
The Midlands club have still to make an official approach to either Wigan or the Canaries but are set to push ahead with moves in that direction in the next 24 hours.
Villa owner Randy Lerner sees Martinez as the kind of progressive young manager needed to take the club forward after dismissing Alex McLeish two and a half weeks ago.
He has also been impressed by Lambert steering Norwich to successive promotions and establishing them in the Premier League last season.
But either appointment - if permission is given to Villa to open talks - would be subject to compensation being agreed.
what do you think?
ali baba
Totally agree with you stinton, the way Lerner runs villa is with no self respect
Ester Ransom
Sorry but big club? Many moons ago bottom 6 more like but with a ridiculous wages to income ratio
Tim Coote
As a Wigan fan I am praying that Martinez will tell Lerner where to stick his job. He turned down the job last year and Villa have gone backwards since then. Why work for a Yank when he already works for the best, most honest owner in the premiership. At least working for Mr Whelan he knows he gets the backing of the owner and will not get stabbed in the back if he loses half a dozen matches.
MichaelStinton
8:18am on 30/5/2012
Villa are 2nd choice at best for any half decent candidate. It's time these american clowns sold oiut to someone who understands football and the history of this great club. It's in a worse state now than when they arrived waving false promises.
Phil Tanner
1:32pm on 30/5/2012
Of course there's a que of people lined up to buy Villa !!
ali baba
1:45pm on 30/5/2012
Phil when Lerner bought villa we were a great proposition, many people wanted to buy villa. Sadly like Liverpool we took the American option. after 6 years of lerner as owner, we r in a financial mess.