Sources: Aston Villa set to hold Unai Emery talks as Mauricio Pochettino misgivings revealed
Aston Villa are planning to hold talks with Unai Emery as they step up their search for a new manager, sources have told Football Insider.
The Midlands giants sacked Steven Gerrard in the wake of Thursday’s 3-0 Premier League defeat to Fulham, after Football Insider revealed on Monday night that Villa chiefs had already decided to sack him regardless of results this week.
Villarreal boss Emery, 50, is one of Villa’s top targets to replace Gerrard and he is believed to be interested in hearing Villa’s plans.
Informal discussions are set to take place after Football Insider revealed on 30 September that Villa had already made their interest clear in Emery, along with Mauricio Pochettino.
The former Arsenal boss came close to landing the Newcastle United job last November but opted to remain at Villarreal and ended up steering them to last season’s Champions League semi-finals.
The Spaniard has a contract with the La Liga club until next summer and the deal is understood to include a release clause.
It is believed that Emery’s preferred counter-attacking playing style would work better than Pochettino’s more front-foot high pressing style.
The Midlands giants have set their sights on a top-tier proven manager to take over the club placed 17th in the Premier League table.
Owners Naseef Sawiris and Wes Edens have pumped in more than £400million to spend on signings since taking over Villa four years ago.
The club are re-established in the Premier League but have yet to secure a top-ten finish under their owners.
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