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Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Mancini has been given permission to speak to Aston Villa chairman Randy Lerner about becoming the new boss at Villa Park.

Villa have approached Martinez following first choices Rafael Benitez, Carlo Ancelotti and Mark Hughes were all ruled out.

Former England, Middlesbrough and Wolfsburg coach Steve McClaren was told not to bother with the interview as Lerner is wary of a fans’ backlash if he was appointed.

The American billionaire is hunting for a new manager after Gerard Houllier will not be able to return to his job after suffering a health scare.

Hopes of persuading Carlo Ancelotti to become manager were ended when the ex-Chelsea and AC Milan boss announced he was taking a year’s sabbatical from the game.

Martin Jol was also in the frame but has joined Fulham, leaving Martinez and Bolton’s Owen Coyle the two bookies favourites to take over.

Lerner wants an appointment sooner rather than later to allow the new man as much time as possible to assess the strength of the squad ahead of the new campaign.

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Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso has spoken of his desire to return to Liverpool and about how he misses playing in front of the iconic Kop.

The 29-year-old spent five years with the Reds before departing to Madrid for £30million in 2009 after winning the Champions League and FA Cup.

The move transpired after Rafael Benitez had guided Liverpool to their best ever finish in Premier League of second but he had attempted to sign Gareth Barry from Aston Villa.

The public pursuit of the England man left Alonso feeling isolated and disillusioned with the club but now admits it was a wrench to leave Anfield.

“It was difficult because Liverpool has been and always will be very special,” said Alonso. “It is in my heart because I have lived very intense things there.

“It was really difficult to tell the fans what my decision was, but sometimes you have to follow your feelings and that was my feeling at that moment.

“The fans always made it very clear what they wanted and the support I had from the first day I arrived to the last day was absolutely top and I can’t have any complaints about that. But it was my decision and my feeling.”

“It was quite a long summer with so many meetings, so many talks and so many rumours.

“I would have preferred to say goodbye properly, like so many other teammates had already done, but because of the circumstances it didn’t happen.”

“I miss lots of things. I miss the lads, I miss the atmosphere at Melwood – it was a great place to work, and the scenario of Anfield is unbeatable.

“The special nights I have been privileged enough to live, those will be in my memory forever and they are difficult to compare anywhere in the world.

“Since I arrived I have known so many big, big legends as Kenny, Hansen, Souness, Fowler, Stevie, Carra – these will be forever.

“Sami Hyypia as well, for me he was a big example and someone I learned a lot from. I don’t think I belong there but if I am a step below them I am happy to be there.”

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Aston Villa are today searching for a new manager after Gerard Houllier has left the club by mutual consent following doctor’s advice.

The Frenchman was told by medical reports that he would be putting his health at risk if he returned to duty with the Midlands club.

Chairman Randy Lerner and chief executive Paul Faulkner have already identified Rafael Benitez, Carlo Ancelotti and David Moyes as potential successors.

Houllier, who took over at Villa Park in September last year, missed the last few weeks of the season after his latest heart scare, with Gary McAllister filling in as caretaker manager.

The Birmingham Mail reports the club felt it unfair to risk aggravating his condition by insisting he return to the manager’s post after looking at his latest test results.

Houllier has two years to run of the contract he signed when replacing Martin O’Neill as Villa manager, and any possible severance package would have to be finalised if he leaves.

He has struggled to win over the Villa fans despite a revival in the second half of the season which saw the club finish ninth in the Premier League.

The prospect of him leaving the club on the grounds of ill health raises a question whether he would ever be able to return to management.

His heart condition also saw him take five months away from the dugout when managing Liverpool in 2001, entrusting team affairs to his assistant Phil Thompson.

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Atletico Madrid are going head-to-head with Aston Villa for the managerial services of Rafael Benitez.

The Times reports the former Liverpool boss has been made a ‘very attractive offer’ to move back to Spain and take the reigns at the Estadio Vicente Calderón.

He has been out of work since being sacked by Inter Milan after only six months and it is as yet unclear whether he will uproot his family from their Merseyside home.

Sources close to Benítez say he is determined not to rush into a decision and will proceed with plans to leave on a ten-day family holiday this morning.

Villa were also said to be interested in the 51-year-old amid concerns over manager Gerard Houllier’s health.

But owner Randy Lerner has not yet made a decision on Houllier’s role at the club and has not made an offer to Benitez.

Atletico’s approach raises the possibility of the Spaniard crossing swords once more with Jose Mourinho.

There is no love lost between the pair and working in the same city could raise tensions once more.

Benitez worked for Atletico’s neighbours Real in his early coaching career but often speaks highly of Los Rojiblancos.

“I have always had sympathy for Atlético Madrid, because, among other things, I have friends there and my father always liked Atlético,” Benítez said in February.

“He said he was going to support Atlético Madrid ahead of Real and I have always had much sympathy for them since.

“The team has always seemed spectacular, especially their fans.”

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Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner is contemplating replacing Gerard Houllier with former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti.

The American billionaire sees Ancelotti as the perfect replacement considering his global reputation and history of success as a manager.

Ancelotti, who was only sacked by Chelsea last Sunday, has been inundated with job vacancies from Italy but is seriously considering staying in England.

He has fallen in love with the country following his two years in West London and has even mentioned the possibility of taking charge of the national team.

Villa Park sources say negotiations are at an early stage but both sides are interested in a deal.

The Italian is said to be unwilling to make a definite decision until the situation regarding his friend Houllier’s future is sorted out.

Lerner is aware of the Frenchman’s heart problems after Houllier was taken to hospital in April and had to miss the rest of the season.

Houllier is expected to be retained by the club in a director of football role, concentrating on finding potential signings and controlling the youth academy.

Ancelotti is not the only name being linked with position. David Moyes, Rafael Benitez and Ian Holloway have all had their names mentioned.

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Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso has revealed Rafael Benitez’s pursuit of Gareth Barry was the reason he left Liverpool for the Bernabeu.

The 29-year-old sensationally left Anfield in 2009 after inspiring his side to second in the Premier League.

Since the Spain international has moved to Madrid, Liverpool have struggled and will now not play European football for the first time since 1999.

But 12 months earlier his position in the team was underthreat as the then Liverpool boss Benitez tried to sign Gareth Barry from Aston Villa.

Barry’s switch did not materialise and Alonso stayed but the whole experience left him feeling his status was being undermined and that he wanted to leave.

“At the end of that season, speaking to Rafa, he told me he wanted to sign other players and I could be one of the replacements,” Alonso told Liverpool’s website.

“If an offer would have come, probably I would have been sold.

“That’s when I told myself that the situation had changed – from being a very important player to being one of those who can be sold to get funds to sign other players.

“I accepted it because I am a professional but you have to realise what your situation is.

“At the end nothing happened because there was no agreement and we started my last season in Liverpool, but knowing what had happened.

“I didn’t know what would happen but at the end of the season, knowing what had happened, I felt if another option was to come I needed to take another step in my career.

“It was very difficult to take that decision, but it was probably for the best for me because I was not comfortable with that situation and if I had stayed another season it would have been uncomfortable for me.

“I was really happy with the team and my team-mates and felt that we could do great things,” he added.

“I was happy on that side but within a club you have to see the big picture and another season would have been too much for me.

“As soon as the season finished I talked to the manager. I knew that maybe Madrid were coming and I said if the terms were good then I wanted to leave.”

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Blackburn Rovers will battle with Aston Villa to sign Rafael Benitez after losing patience with current manager Steve Kean.

The News of the World reports the Ewood Park owners, Venky’s, want a big name manager to attract the stars that would boost their profile.

The Indian chicken company controversially sacked Sam Allardyce earlier in the season and replaced him with coach Steve Kean.

The Scot has struggled as manager and only secured Premier League status on a dramatic final day of the 2010/11 campaign.

Blackburn have been linked with a number of big names, notably Ronaldinho, David Beckham and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

But none of the moves materialised and the owners believe it would be easier to sign these players if they had a manager with Benitez’s reputation.

But the Lancashire club will face competition for the Spaniard’s signature from Aston Villa who themselves are looking for a new boss.

Gerard Houllier is unlikely to return to first-team duties after his heart problems and could be given a director of football role.

But Benitez will not be happy about giving over control to the Frenchman and Blackburn hope to take advantage.

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Liverpool midfielder Milan Jovanovic regrets moving to Anfield and cannot wait to leave Merseyside.

The 30-year-old joined the Reds last summer was signed on a free from Belgian side Standard Liege by former manager Rafael Benitez.

The Serbian international has struggled to make an impact under Roy Hodgson and then Kenny Dalglish and has been linked with a move away.

Jovanovic is unhappy with his situation and wants to move to back to Europe but admits life would have been different if Benitez stayed in charge.

Asked if he ever regretted his move to England, Jovanovic told Sportske.”If I’m completly honest, I must say that I regulary think about this.

“If I would move to Italy or Germany I would be happier than in England – my life would be nicer.

“And also for my career it would be better to play in Serie A or the Bundesliga.

“In Belgium I was living in an area where there were so many people from Serbia and my life was different, more dynamic.

“Liverpool is such a different place. I’m here alone, without anybody. I’m just a very lonely stranger.

“In my months here I haven’t met anybody from my country. If I wouldn’t have my wife and my kids I just couldn’t speak Serbian with anybody.

“But Liverpool is of course a club which you can’t refuse.”

“My only regret is, that the coach, who brought me at Anfield, left the club even before my arrival,” he said.

“If Rafa Benitez would have stayed in Liverpool I believe everything would be different for me.

“There were 15 other clubs which followed me but I chose Liverpool and made a mistake.”

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Aston Villa will dump manager Gerard Houllier this summer and will appoint Rafael Benitez as his replacement.

The Villans have struggled all season since Martin O’Neill quit the Midland’s club in August.

Houllier took the job and has not managed to deliver consistent results. They are currently in 16th position, two points off the relegation zone.

The Frenchman has also not handled frustrations within the squad after notable bust-ups with Richard Dunne and Stephen Ireland.

Villa owner Randy Lerner is believed to have already drawn up a short-list that includes David Moyes, Owen Coyle and Martin Jol.

But the American magnate wants Benitez to take the reigns and restore the club to its former glories.

The 50-year-old Spaniard has been out of work since being sacked by Inter Milan in December after only six months.

The former Liverpool manager is keen to return to England and the potential size of Villa is attractive to him.

“The priority is the Premier League, because the style is better for me,” Benitez told the BBC.

“You can’t say we will build something and spend three, four or five years waiting for trophies,” he said.

“You have to find the right balance, a club that can win or try to win right now but at the same time prepare for the future.

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Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez says it would be a ‘dream’ to return to the club in the future.

The Spaniard was replaced last summer by Roy Hodgson but is currently out of work following his sacking by Inter Milan after just six months.

The 50-year-old is still a legend at Anfield after winning the Champions League and FA Cup in his six years in charge.

Benitez is full of praise for the job caretaker-boss, Kenny Dalglish, is currently doing but admits he would love a chance to return to the Kop.

”I am really proud of being the manager of Liverpool Football Club and I would like to come back in the future,” Benitez told Sky Sports.

”You never know [when] because Kenny is doing a really good job. It’s a question of time. You never know in the future.

”It would be a dream. I would be really pleased to come back in the future.”

Benitez did confess he would never manage Liverpool’s fiercest rivals Manchester United or Everton but he will consider other jobs in England.

”Fans in Liverpool know the teams I would not go [to] but I think these clubs wouldn’t offer me a job,” he added.

”I’m a professional but obviously some clubs I would not go to, especially the big rivals of Liverpool. I won’t say the names, but it’s not difficult!”

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