Pundit Simon Jordan admits he sees the merits of Steven Gerrard as a boss but believes the Rangers boss has yet to prove himself as an "elite manager".
It comes with the 41-year-old the favourite among the bookies to become the next manager of Aston Villa after they parted ways with Dean Smith following a wretched run of results.
Record Sport revealed he was also on the Villans' radar two years ago when Smith was under the cosh during their first season back in the Premier League.
Gerrard's work at Rangers had led to admiring glances from other clubs and he was linked with Newcastle United in the immediate aftermath of Steve Bruce's departure.
Many believe the Anfield icon is destined to manage Liverpool one day but Jordan is convinced much work remains before a potential return to his spiritual home.
Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: "There is an assumption, and I'm not in that camp right now, that Steven Gerrard is an elite manager.
"I don't think he's an elite manager, I think he's managing in a league which has two teams who can really compete for it.
"I think it's absolutely right that a stepping stone comes between him and Liverpool, I think the gap is quite significant, despite the fact he was an elite player.
"Villa do have the capacity to be a big side in the Premier League, they do have the bandwidth, they have a top six mentality, I think the owners do."
"You are taking yourself from a league which has a certain pizazz about it to the ultimate league and then trying to punch your way in that league.
"Jumping from Rangers, which is a great club doing great things in their league, to Liverpool, that are trying to dominate the Premier League, trying to win European tournaments, not be in them, is a vast difference."
And Jordan went further when he added that he remains unconvinced Gerrard will be the next man up when Jurgen Klopp calls time on his Liverpool love affair.
He added: "There's also this assumption that a shoo-in Gerrard is going to manage Liverpool, I'm not in that camp."
