Unai Emery: Aston Villa close to agreeing deal with Villarreal to make Spaniard new manager

Aston Villa are close to agreeing a deal for Villarreal manager Unai Emery to become their next manager.

Talks are under way, with Villa prepared to pay the £5.2m release clause in Emery’s contract.

It is understood Villarreal are preparing an announcement on Emery’s future amid the interest from Villa, who sacked Steven Gerrard last week.

More to follow…

Emery fantastic for Villa, he’s a super coach

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Jamie Carragher believes that Unai Emery would be great appointment by Aston Villa for the vacant manager role as he has been linked to the role since Steven Gerrard left

Jamie Carragher speaking on Monday Night Football:

“I think it would be a fantastic appointment. I’m a huge fan of Unai Emery. He’s had a lot of success with teams just below the elite, almost fighting against the biggest clubs.

“It didn’t go quite so well with him at Arsenal but if you look what he did at Villarreal – Europa League winners and you look at how far they pushed Liverpool in the Champions League. He was brilliant at Valencia, always getting them into the Champions League places.

“I don’t think he’s the type of manager for Barcelona and Real Madrid – and I don’t mean that in a disrespectful way – but for a Valencia and an Aston Villa and for clubs who are trying to compete against teams who have more money, he gets his teams really organised and he’s a super coach.

“Maybe not for the biggest names in the planet but, for Aston Villa right now, I think he’d be a great appointment.”