Damien Comolli is being lined up for a surprise return to English football with Aston Villa.

Comolli has been targeted for the role of technical director by a Chinese consortium bidding to buy the relegated Premier League club from Randy Lerner.

Villa are hoping to name Nigel Pearson as their new manager next month but it is understood that Comolli will be offered a key position if the Chinese bidders succeed in their takeover.

Comolli, 43, has not worked for an English club since leaving Liverpool as director of football in April 2012 but is already undertaking diligence on Villa’s set-up and academy.

Lerner is prepared to sell the club for about £75 million and chairman Steve Hollis is understood to be talking to three parties about a potential sale.