Amorim tight-lipped over possible Villa switch

SPORTING Lisbon head coach Ruben Amorim has refused to be drawn on the Aston Villa job.

The 37-year-old is a contender to replace Steven Gerrard, right, after he was sacked following Thursday’s wretched 3-0 defeat at Fulham.

Amorim guided Sporting to their first Portuguese league title in 19 years last term and is one of Europe’s hottest managerial properties.

Villa would have to pay a huge sum to take him from the Jose Alvalade Stadium, but Amorim has remained tight-lipped.

“In relation to other clubs, I am

Sporting’s coach. There is nothing to say on the matter, once again,” he said, ahead of Sporting’s game with Casa Pia today.

Meanwhile, Liverpool manager

Jurgen Klopp expects Gerrard to come back stronger from his sacking at Villa – but hopes he takes some time away from the game first.

Having guided Villa to 14th last season, the ex-Rangers boss – who has been tipped as a Liverpool manager-in-waiting due to his long association with the club – paid the price for a run of just two Premier League wins from 11 games.

“I am sure he will come back from that,” said Klopp. “We had a little exchange this morning, but nothing too deep. Not a long conversation.

“I can imagine it’s disappointing for him because of the visions he had and the things he wanted to achieve at Aston Villa.

“But I don’t think we have to worry now about Stevie. He said himself yesterday, he knows the game and these things can happen.

“How it is in life, we all get knocks here and there and it’s all about how you respond. He always came back (as a player) and he will come back from that, no doubt about that.

“He will be back, 100 per cent, but now I hope he takes a bit of time as well, maybe use it now a little bit for himself to recharge.”