The prospect of André Villas-Boas becoming Liverpool manager has receded after the club's owners, who have offered Louis van Gaal the position of sporting director, cooled their interest in the 34-year-old.

Villas-Boas has been a frontrunner for the Anfield vacancy following Kenny Dalglish's sacking last Wednesday and hoped to hold formal talks with the principal owner, John W Henry, and the chairman, Tom Werner, as the Liverpool hierarchy settle on a shortlist for the post. The former Porto and Chelsea manager, however, has not been approached for an interview. While his candidacy cannot be discounted completely, he has seen his prospects diminish amid interest from Fenway Sports Group in Roberto Martínez, Brendan Rodgers and possibly the man they wish to oversee a new managerial structure at Liverpool, Van Gaal.

The Portuguese coach, who guided Porto to a league and Europa League double in his one season in charge before suffering an ill-fated spell at Chelsea, had made it known he was keen on Liverpool only to insist on Sunday that he was "still choosing the right project and that decision will take the necessary time". It has also been suggested that Villas-Boas knows a second failed stint in English football would cause irreparable damage to his career at the highest level, although his agent, Carlo Goncalves, has not ruled out a move to Anfield.

Roma have also approached Villas-Boas since he was sacked by Chelsea in March but are also keen on their former striker, now Catania coach, Vincenzo Montella. Goncalves said: "Liverpool and Roma? Well, what we are looking for is a [club with a] strong technical plan, that is solid and durable. Villas-Boas would like to return to coaching in these conditions, but if these conditions are not available, we would have no problems not working. I won't confirm or deny contacts with specific clubs. What we are interested in is a technical project, its outlook and a situation that has longevity."

Goncalves's words may fit with FSG's proposed vision for Liverpool but the new management structure envisaged at Anfield is still being put in place. Van Gaal has been offered a senior role at Anfield and, though he has not called time on his own managerial career and may ask to be considered as a potential replacement for Dalglish, is believed to be close to accepting the position of sporting director.

Martínez remains a candidate for the managerial vacancy and has held informal talks with Liverpool since they were granted permission to approach the Wigan Athletic manager last week. He has not met Henry and Werner in Boston for a formal interview and that process is unlikely to commence before the weekend. Martínez is on holiday in the Caribbean.

Another possibility for manager remains Rodgers, despite his public rejection of the offer of an interview last Friday. The Swansea City manager declined Liverpool's invitation on the basis he had no wish to be part of an extensive list that would then be whittled down, particularly as his work at the Liberty Stadium should be clear to FSG. Rodgers may be tempted if it was clear he was on Liverpool's shortlist and FSG are understood to be still interested in the 39-year-old.