Gerrard "earmarked" for Bristol City job

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard is reportedly a candidate to become the new manager of Bristol City.

The current Rangers boss has been "earmarked" by Bristol owner Steve Lansdown, according to the Express.

The Robins sacked manager Lee Johnson last week after going on a nine-game winless run.

Billionaire Lansdown seemingly has high hopes for his club and wants to get them into the Premier League.

While the likes of Chris Houghton are also on the managerial shortlist, Lansdown is believed to favour a move for Gerrard.

Bristol target Premier League football

Despite their horror run, Bristol are still in contention to gain promotion this season.

They currently sit in 11th but are only three points behind Cardiff, who sit in the final playoff spot.

They have three games left to play.

Since Johnson's sacking, Dean Holden has taken the reigns on a temporary basis. Bristol have actually won both games that he has taken charge of.

While going up this season is still possible, it is unlikely.

Next season seems like it will be a big one at Ashton Gate.

Lansdown is very ambitious and is not afraid to spend in order to achieve his top-tier dreams.

Hiring Gerrard would certainly encourage players to sign for the club. Anyone would love to play under one of the finest players to ever play in the Premier League.

With promising players like Jay Dasilva and Han-Noah Massengo in their ranks, this ambition may well become a reality in the not-too-distant future.

A sensible move for Gerrard?

One problem is that Gerrard recently signed a new contract at Rangers, keeping him in Glasgow until 2024.

If Bristol wanted to hire him, they would likely have to pay a fee.

Rangers has proved to be the perfect job for Gerrard.

He is known to have the ambition of eventually managing Liverpool. Going to Scotland to a massive club competing for titles has been a fantastic move.

While he has not been able to steal the SPL title from Celtic in his two seasons at Ibrox, he is getting closer.

If he went to Bristol and won promotion, he would certainly be in the frame to take over at Anfield when Jurgen Klopp leaves.

Klopp looks set to stay for at least four more years, but the Liverpool owners are surely planning for life without the German icon.

If Klopp was to leave tomorrow, the likes of Julian Nagelsmann or Marco Rose would be more sensible options due to Gerrard's inexperience.

Eventually, Steven Gerrard will be in the frame. But he still has to prove himself some more.

Perhaps taking a job in England is the next step in doing so.