Roberto Di Matteo odds on for the Villa job

A new odds-on favourite for the Aston Villa hot seat has emerged in the last 24 hours in the form of former West Bromwich Albion and MK Dons manager Roberto Di Matteo.

The Italian who has been out of work since resigning as boss of Bundesliga side Schalke 12 months ago is thought to be keen on a return to England and the Villa Park club is said to interest him as he sees it as a chance to awaken a sleeping giant.

The Swiss born Italian international was being linked with succeeding Quique Sánchez Flores at Watford last week as the prospect of the former Atlético Madrid getting his P45 from the vicarage road outfit has increased.

If the Chinese consortium The Rui Kang Group complete their proposed £75million takeover a high profile name such Di Matteo could be just what they are after to help win the fans over after this seasons dreadful showing.

Di Matteo, who until 2009 had the record for the fastest FA Cup Final goal, has managed in the Midlands before with West Brom and helped them to gain promotion in 2009 as runners up in the Championship, now his reign at The Hawthorns may not have ended well but his win ratio (I know I sound like Tim Sherwood) is better than these former Baggies bosses Big Ron’s, Gary Megson’s, Tony Mowbray’s and current England boss Roy Hodgson’s.

Also let’s not forget the likeable Italian is the man who took a Chelsea team that had been woeful under AVB to a Champions League and FA Cup double in 2011-2012 before losing his job, some would say unfairly, at the west London club.

The former Chelsea and Lazio player will have a mammoth task on his hands revitalizing the squad after a dire season but with a few bad eggs leaving (if anyone else will take them) and some investment from the new Chinese owners perhaps Roberto could be the man to restore some much needed pride to the once great club located in B6….