Gary McAllister is being lined by Gerard Houllier to join him at Aston Villa.
The new Villa Park boss is hoping to recruit his former Liverpool skipper to help him after being turned down by three other candidates for the post.
The Scot is currently working alongside Gordon Strachan at Middlesbrough, but with the former Celtic chief coming under increasing pressure following the Teessiders' poor start to the season, he may be allowed to leave.