Well-backed Solskjaer would be a popular choice at Aston Villa

A different manager seems to be attracting money on an almost daily basis to become the next Aston Villa boss, but the possibility of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer taking over from Alex McLeish is the most exciting of the names mentioned to date.

Solskjaer was an outsider at 25/1 when McLeish left the club earlier in the week, but has now been backed into just 7/4.

The fact that Solskjaer is untested in the Premier League may concern some, but he has known nothing but success as a player at Manchester United and then as a manager, firstly with the reserves at Old Trafford and then in Norway at Molde.

Molde’s title success under Solskjaer was their first ever in 100 years as a professional club.

Furthermore, a number of other managers have enjoyed Premier League success after a risk was first taken on them, most notably Arsene Wenger and David Moyes.

Meanwhile, it is believed that he is eager to be given a chance in the Premier League and should have little trouble working within any financial constraints at Villa Park.

His time in Norway will provide good knowledge of the Scandinavian transfer market, which is typically seen as an area where players can be bought for lesser sums.

His Manchester United connections could also have added advantages, both in terms of the managerial knowledge that he would have gained from Sir Alex Ferguson and the potential of gaining some of the club’s youth players on loan.

Bringing in a manager that can unite the Aston Villa fans again and re-establish the club as top-six contenders must be the leading goal of owner Randy Lerner.

Paul Lambert is still just holding onto favouritism in the next Aston Villa manager market at 11/8, with Roberto Martinez also still prominent at 11/4.