Aston Villa ‘approach Villarreal boss Unai Emery’ over managerial vacancy
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Aston Villa ‘approaches Villarreal boss Unai Emery’ about a management vacancy following Steven Gerrard’s resignation, with Premier League side ‘willing to pay £5.25 million release clause’ to bring former Arsenal manager back to England
- Aston Villa has reportedly contacted Unai Emery about their leadership role
- Villa has been without a boss since Steven Gerrard was fired on Thursday
- The Midlands club would be ready to pay its £5.25million escape clause
- Villarreal is hopeful he will reject the approach and continue in Spain
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Aston Villa has approached Unai Emery about their vacant executive position, according to a report.
The Midlands squad have been without a manager since Steven Gerrard was sacked last week after 11 months in charge after a poor start to the season, and have been looking for a replacement ever since.
According to Fabrizio RomanoVilla are willing to pay his £5.25million release clause, although his current side Villarreal are hopeful the 50-year-old will reject the approach.
Aston Villa has reportedly approached Unai Emery about their vacant executive position
The Midlands side would be willing to pay its £5.25m release clause to Villarreal
Emery has been in charge of the Spanish club since 2020 and led them to the semi-finals of the Champions League last year, where they lost to Liverpool.
He spent 18 months in the Premier League with Arsenal between May 2018 and November 2019, when he was sacked.
The Spanish side are currently seventh in LaLiga, the same position as last season, but Emery is known for his European achievements after winning the Europa League three years in a row between 2015 and 2017.
Emery, 50, was in charge of Arsenal for 18 months between May 2018 and November 2019
Villarreal is hopeful he will reject the advances of Villa, who is 14th in the rankings
He reportedly rejected Newcastle’s approach to stay with Villarreal last season, and the club hope he will do the same again with Villa.
Villa has been linked with a number of names since Gerrard’s departure, with Mauricio Pochettino originally topping their wanted list, but the former Spurs boss had reservations.
Ruben Amorim, manager of Sporting Lisbon, was also shortlisted, as was Thomas Frank van Brentford, who looks set to sign a new contract with the Bees soon.
Villa hopes their owners’ ambitions will entice Emery to return to England, although there is currently no clear indication of his interest in the vacancy.