Celtic legend Chris Sutton insists Steven Gerrard is coming to the end of his Rangers "shelf life".
And he believes all the signs are pointing to him accepting any advances from Aston Villa if they come calling after disposing of Dean Smith.
The boss that got Villa promoted to the Premier League was sacked at the weekend after losing to Southampton and with the club sitting 16th they need a new boss to avoid a relegation scrap and instead begin a push for Europe.
Gerrard was immediately installed as the bookies' favourite with the Scottish Premiership winner's stock high after an unbeaten title win and impressive European campaigns throughout his tenure in Glasgow.
Sutton pointed to Villa chief Christian Purslow's relationship with Gerrard and current Ibrox assistant Gary McAllister's previous spell at Villa Park.
And he believes Gerrard is coming to the natural conclusion of his time at Rangers.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, he said: "If you're asking me if he was offered the job, would he take it? I think he would.
"Christian Purslow, would Steven Gerrard have been at Liverpool when Purslow was there?
"He's done a really excellent job at Rangers, stopping Celtic winning 10 In A Row. A huge, huge deal.
"Rangers posted enormous losses just a few days ago. I just wonder...
"He's been up there a long time now, three years. I think he's done exceptionally well in Europe, if you look at his team last season I don't think is as good this season.
"Eventually Steven Gerrard will come down south and of course the talk is he'll end up at Liverpool. There needs to be .. I don't want to call Aston Villa a stepping stone because they're an enormous club, but he needs to learn his trade at a club like Aston Villa.
"Gary McAllister had time there under Gerard Houllier so there's a link there.
"I think, in truth, you manage Celtic, you manage Rangers, and it has a shelf life.
"I just wonder if Steven Gerrard has come to the end of his shelf life. If he's offered the job, I'm pretty sure he'd take it."
