• Houllier will notify employers he is taking Villa manager’s job
• Uncertainty surrounds the future of Kevin MacDonald

Gérard Houllier remains on course to be unveiled as Aston Villa’s new manager by the end of this week. The Frenchman is due to meet French federation officials on Wednesday morning when he will inform his employers of his impending departure for Villa Park.

Although a deal with Houllier has been agreed, matters have been stalled by his need to speak to the federation, where he is technical director.

Meanwhile the Frenchman’s representatives are scrutinising the former Liverpool manager’s contract. Once the lawyers are happy, his installation will be confirmed, with an announcement thought most likely to be made on Thursday.

Villa are keen that Houllier has time to work with his squad before next Monday’s Premier League trip to Stoke City.

Uncertainty surrounds the caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald’s new role. Villa are anxious not to alienate Macdonald, who has impressed Randy Lerner, the club’s owner, since stepping into the post vacated by Martin O’Neill’s shock eve of season resignation.

Aston VillaLouise Taylorguardian.co.uk

• Former Liverpool manager may work with MacDonald
• Owner Randy Lerner keen to appoint O’Neill’s successor

Aston Villa hope to appoint Gérard Houllier as the successor to Martin O’Neill in the next 48 hours. The former Liverpool manager is spending the weekend deciding whether to return to the Premier League after a six-year absence.

Villa’s American owner, Randy Lerner, is keen to make an appointment sooner rather than later. Houllier was interviewed last week – along with the caretaker manager, the reserve team coach Kevin MacDonald, and the former West Ham United manager Alan Curbishley.

The indications are that Houllier would not be against joining Villa in a traditional managerial role. However, MacDonald’s coaching skills are highly rated by Lerner and the Villa players and he could be given a role with the first team.

Houllier gave little away on his future after attending the Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher’s testimonial at Anfield yesterday. He is currently France’s technical director but he has come under fire after a disappointing World Cup.

Questions have been raised over Houllier’s health, given the heart problems from which he suffered at Liverpool. He has apparently assured Villa they would have no cause for concern.

Houllier, who turned 63 last week, left Anfield in 2004 and has been his country’s technical director since leaving Lyon in 2007. He led Liverpool to a Uefa Cup, FA Cup and League Cup treble in 2001.

Aston Villaguardian.co.uk

Today’s fluff didn’t start the fire

Slowly, they come creeping back. The low flames flickering in the reflections of their bright eyes. Above the susurrating winds and the hushed chitter from the shadows, snatched phrases and tentative negotiating ploys are faintly audible: “Player-plus-cash deal” … “£120,000 a week” … “Six-month loan with a view to a permanent transfer pertaining to a pre-agreed contractual release clause.” The banked fires will be stoked again, fuel brought by willing arms. Out of the darkness they will flit, once more to dance in the circle of light …

[Fade to black]

Yep, the Mill is feeling in fine fettle this morning, as only three days after the transfer window SLAMMED SHUT the gears of spin, cant and innuendo are rapidly grinding back into life. The main target today is the England manager and national pin cushion, Fabio Capello, who is sensationally going to use players we have heard of in a formation that is practically hardwired into the English mentality for tonight’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria. Capello’s decision to retain the majority of the squad that fared so badly in South Africa and send his team out in a staid, missionary 4-4-2 met with the usual LOLZ, Roflcopters!!, ZOMG!, lollerblading in my LMAOplane!!!!! response from the tabs. Oh, and the Mirror have decided to Photoshop the Italian up like Frankenstein’s monster too.

From one soon-to-be ex-manager (well, he will be one day) to an ex soon-to-be-new manager, the Daily Mail have announced that Gérard Houllier has got the Aston Villa job. This, of course, would be the same Gérard Houllier who was part of the Fifa technical study group that yesterday doled out praise for England’s 4-4-2 loving World Cup flops. It’s only if you read down far enough that the Mail admit they don’t actually know what job it is Houllier has been given (if given one he has been). “It is as yet unknown in what capacity the Frenchman will return,” the report murmurs. Head of catering, perhaps?

Sticking with the Mail, where the Spartak Moscow manager, Valeri Karpin, is totally into Chelsea’s Yuri Zhirkov. “I was interested, I am now and I will be in the winter,” Karpin cooed in a Facebook message to the Russian left-back. We’ll see how steadfast his affection is come January.

The Mirror delight in the scatological headline possibilities allowed for by Celtic’s decision to sniff, ahem, around Danny Shittu. The former Bolton defender is a free agent, so can sign for who he likes yah-boo-sucks to you, transfer deadline. Leicester also fancy a [big Nigerian centre-half].

After welcoming old new-signing Sandro to England five months after he agreed to join, Spurs have turned their attention to Supersport United’s Bongani Khumalo. Harry Redknapp has typed a number into his calculator (possibly 5318008 and turned it upside down) but the South African side are holding out for an unspecified higher amount. Michael Kightly, meanwhile, overlooked for Wolves’ 25-man Premier League squad, could be sent on loan to Reading and Chris Riggott is to go on trial at Cardiff.

In transfers-that-didn’t-happen news, West Ham’s Valon Behrami is still pining for Roma. “I am disappointed the deal failed to go through – that is for certain,” he told the Sun. “Avram Grant gave me his permission to speak with Roma. But he also said he needs me, with West Ham bottom of the table. I’m sure I’ll still get to play for them.” And they say the Swiss don’t get passionate about things.

Jamie Carragher is going to sign on at Liverpool. No, not for his £64.30 Jobseekers Allowance, but for two more years being given the runaround by the Anfield oppo. Thankfully on this one, Fabio Capello has seen the light. Across La Manche, France’s players have signed up to a good behaviour charter, so says Bacary Sagna. If they’re naughty again like they were at the World Cup, there’ll be no frites for tea, or something.

Benjani has said Manchester City lack “class”. Meh. And Zlatan Ibrahimovic reckons “City are still a side for the future. I chose Milan because they are a team that can win prizes now. City can wait for the future but I can’t.” But can they, Zlatan? Can they?

Finally, exclusive to all newspapers is the news that Cheryl and Ashley Cole are to divorce today. Although the Mill might keep its Cheryl Cole RSS feed – purely in the event that she hooks up with another brother from the fraternity – if that’s all right by you.

Aston VillaChelseaTottenham HotspurCelticAlan Gardnerguardian.co.uk