Aston Villa have reportedly made "initial contact" with Tim Sherwood about the vacant manager's job at Villa Park.

Villans owner Randy Lerner is considering the former Tottenham Hotspur boss and USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann as potential successors to the ousted Paul Lambert, the Daily Mail reports.

Sherwood, one of the few available managers with recent Premier League experience, was linked with West Bromwich Albion and Queens Park Rangers, but failed to agree terms with both clubs.

With Klinsmann believed to be set on taking the USA to the next World Cup, Sherwood is the bookmakers' favourite to land the Villa job.

Villa are said to be aiming to appoint a new manager ahead of their game against Stoke City on February 21.