Aston Villa are 'expected to bring former Philadelphia 76ers president Chris Heck' into their senior management structure.
Heck left the Sixers last summer after nine years at the NBA franchise, a period that coincided with one of the most successful spells in their history.
According to reports in The Athletic, the move was pushed by Villa's co-owner Wes Edens, who rates Heck as a commercial expert after witnessing his Basketball success first hand as co-owner of rival franchise Milwaukee Bucks.
Heck has worked in football before after spending two years as New York Red Bulls' president of business operations from 2011-13.