Unai Emery 'getting very close' to leaving Aston Villa
Unai Emery may be set for his final year in charge of Aston Villa despite being under contract until 2029.
That is according to former senior Villa scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
The 54-year-old will have been managing the Villans for four years in November, and has transformed his team in that time.
Villa won the Europa League last season, ending a 30-year wait for a trophy and qualifying for the Champions League when they beat Freiburg 3-0.
But there has been some suggestion that Emery has taken his team as far as they can go, with the profit and sustainability rules proving a constant battle.
Villa will find themselves struggling to find space within the restrictions to reinforce their squad yet again this summer, despite the success of May.
Unai Emery could be leaving Aston Villa soon
Emery has always appeared to be a manager suited to the the clubs slightly behind the very top level.
The likes of Sevilla, Villarreal and Villa, who are undoubtedly big clubs, but who are not expected to challenge for the league title.
It is not out of the question that Emery would eye a third opportunity to prove his ability to manage a club of that stature, however.
"This could probably be Emery's last year for me. I think Emery is getting very close," King told Football Insider.
"'Is this as far as I can take this football club?' So bringing Marcus Rashford back in and keeping my best players is going to give us a chance at the Premiership."
He added: "It would be mine [target to win the Premier League] if I was managing that football club. I'd say: 'Hang on a minute. Don't worry about the PSR rules here.
"'Let's just get something straight. I want my best players for next season. We've won a trophy. We've finished fourth. Hey, let's either be runners-up or champions and win another trophy'".
What Emery has said about the future
Villa will hope to see Emery stay at the club and continue to oversee their progress, but they will be aware that his ambitions must be matched.
"I am ambitious and, of course, I need support [from] the owners and everyone that works in the club," he said in May.
"And from the players, and they are following us. We are doing it together. But we must try to set our ambitions, being clear and realistic. Every step forward we are doing makes sense."
He added: "Getting this trophy we are adding experiences for us, and those experiences for the players are important. Because we can play next year trying as well to be in contention for trophies."