Revealed: The real reason Gerrard and Rangers coaches have arrived in London - Sources
Steven Gerrard has headed in London for a pre-arranged 40th birthday bash for Rangers fitness guru Jordan Milsom, Football Insider can reveal.
The Ibrox manager was spotted arriving at Euston station with a suitcase on Wednesday, prompting speculation he was meeting Aston Villa supremo Christian Purslow for talks in the capital.
But a Rangers source has told Football Insider that the real reason Gerrard and his backroom team are in London is for a pre-arranged party to mark Milsom's 40th birthday.
Ibrox first-team coach Michael Beale shared on his Instagram Story that he was in London on Tuesday evening.
This ramped up speculation that Gerrard and his coaches were putting the finishing touches to their Villa move in the capital.
That is not the case, even though they are set to imminently be headed south of the border permanently.
As revealed by Football Insider earlier today, Villa are in advanced talks to appoint Gerrard as their new manager - as well as four members of his Rangers backroom staff.
Gerrard is set to be joined at the Midlands giants by number two Gary McAllister, first-team coach Beale as well as head of performance Milsom and technical coach Tom Culshaw.
Gerrard has been formulating his backroom team after making up his mind to leave Rangers after three-and-a-half years.
Negotiations progressed smoothly yesterday and there is now an expectation that the Liverpool icon could be announced as the new Villa manager in the next 24 hours.