CHRIS SUTTON has claimed that Steven Gerrard will likely move to Aston Villa after Rangers posted huge losses last week.

The Ibrox boss is favourite to replace Dean Smith at Villa and Sutton reckons the Liverpool legend will be keen to take on the role.

Celtic hero Sutton also believes that the news this week that Rangers posted losses of £25.5million will play a part in his decision.

“If you’re asking me if he was offered the job, would he take it? I think he would,” said Sutton in the Scottish Daily Mail.

“He’s done a really excellent job at Rangers, stopping Celtic winning ten 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 it 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. 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.”