Unai Emery in 'confrontation' with Aston Villa owners over transfers
Unai Emery is undoubtedly frustrated with the way the transfer business has played out at Aston Villa this summer.
That is according to former senior Villa scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
The Villans have sold Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne, with uncertainty hanging over several other players, too.
Emery's team won the Europa League last season but have been pulled apart, with huge gaps now in a squad set to take part in the Champions League.
Johan Manzambi, Joao Gomes and Alejandro Garnacho have arrived at Villa, but there is no predicting how the season will start after such key departures.
Emery has always reiterated his desire to push forward with his squad, but there may well come a point in which he is fed up with the exits.
Disagreements emerging at Aston Villa
This summer has been tough on Villa. Tielemans' £35million release clause meant there was no choice in his move to Manchester United.
Rogers had made it clear that he was open to a move too, and £117m was hard to turn down for decision-makers.
Yet Emery appears to have had no say in the matter, with his key Europa League-winning players falling one by one.
"I would say that he's frustrated that they haven't replaced what they've sold because this, for me, was a very, very important year for Villa," King told Football Insider.
"After coming up and finishing in the Champions League place, winning a trophy, you've got to move from there. You've got to finish higher in the league than you did last year. Which means you're either going to come third, runner up or win it.
"And you've got to win another trophy. And the trophy you would be aiming for would be either the FA Cup or the League Cup, which is of great significance to Aston Villa supporters. So I would definitely be starting to get a bit of a sweat on, to be honest."
"It seems as though, from what I've been told by people at the club, there's a confrontation here somewhere between management and the people who actually own the football club," he added.
What has Emery said about the new season?
Despite all the departures, and the losses to FC Porto and Real Sociedad in pre-season, Emery is publicly remaining positive.
"I am really optimistic. How we are building the team, how we are with a lot of changes, how we are as well, responding every day," he said this week.
"I want to tell our supporters: we are coming back with a new spirit, a new chapter we will do this year. Really, I am excited."
Behind the scenes, however, it would not be a surprise to see some discontentment bubbling for Emery. The final month of the window will be decisive for Villa.