Report: Moyes front-runner for Aston Villa job

Former Everton and Manchester United boss David Moyes is reportedly in discussions with Aston Villa, with the Scot having already spoken to the club's prospective new owner, Tony Xia.

Moyes, who's been out of work since getting sacked by Real Sociedad in November, could come to terms with the Birmingham side this week, reports John Percy of the Telegraph. Sources confirmed to Percy that Moyes is a leading contender.

With Villa poised for a season in England's second tier after a dismal three-win campaign, finishing 17 points adrift of 19th-place Norwich City, Moyes would take control of a lower-league side for the first time since he bossed Preston North End from 1998-2002.

Moyes guided a struggling Preston languishing near the bottom of Division Two to promotion, and that's exactly what Villa wants facing its first season in the second tier since 1987-88.

Former Leicester boss Nigel Pearson and Roberto Di Matteo are reportedly also in the running for the job.

However, Di Matteo, who won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2011-12, recently talked with Lazio, seemingly taking him out of contention for the Villa gig.

With the Premier League likely to probe Xia's takeover from embattled American owner Randy Lerner over doubts about the Chinese billionaire's business practices, Percy reports that Moyes will look for assurances from the club before potentially taking the job.