Villa line up second Frenchman as Garde alternative

Aston Villa have reluctantly parted company with Tim Sherwood.

Sherwood is out of a job.

Villa splashed out £50million on 13 new players this summer including Idrissa Gana, Jordan Ayew, Jordan Amavi and Jordan Veretout from French Ligue 1.

The winger, 19, was one of Villa’s marquee signings under the former manager Tim Sherwood in August, despite only four appearances for Barcelona’s first team.

Lambert is sympathetic over the situation at his former employers although admits expectations are unrealistic, and insists the club’s next permanent manager must be given more control over signings.

If the new manager avoids making the same mistakes, we could see Villa turn into a more dynamic, and prolific, attacking side.

They are exploring other options and Sportsmail understands Pearson would be open to talks with Villa’s hierarchy.

Unfortunately, a 4-0 drubbing on that fateful day and an 80 percent loss record in this season’s first 10 games has resulted in the club’s board deciding to call time on Sherwood’s fledgling Villa career.

PA Sport reported that the 46-year-old will net a 12-month pay-off after leaving just eight months into a three-and-a-half-year deal.

Remi Garde would be open to taking charge of Aston Villa.

“I would like to see a few more free-kicks going in”.

Villa still seem to be experimenting but would be wise to tempt David Moyes back from Spain.

But Garde will not take the job unless he can bring with him Gerald Baticle, who is now assisting Lyon manager Hubert Fournier at the Stade de Gerland, and Metz fitness coach Robert Duverne.

For the moment, Under-21 manager Kevin MacDonald has stepped in as an interim manager, having served the role in between Martin O’Neill’s sacking and Sherwood’s signing last February.

Danish defender Jores Okore is yet to kick a ball this season after undergoing knee surgery at the end of last season, but could finally make a return in the Capital One Cup clash at Southampton tonight.

Monk said the free-kick at Villa Park was a retort to Sigurdsson’s critics and was a trademark strike from a man who spends hours on the training pitch honing the craft of striking the dead-ball.