Unai Emery Close to New Aston Villa Deal

Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery is close to agreeing a contract extension that would give him a bigger say in the club's long-term future.

Talks took place on Wednesday between Emery, chairman Nassef Sawiris and executives Roberto Olabe and Damian Vidagany. BBC Sport reports that the discussions set a commitment beyond 2029 for the club's development under Emery's sporting leadership. Sporting leadership means the football side of the club, from signings to how the team plays.

Emery's current contract runs until 2029. The Spanish coach joined Villa from Villarreal in 2022, and he has rebuilt the club into a regular European force. Last season ended in triumph. Villa won the Europa League in May, beating Freiburg in the final. It was the club's first major trophy in 30 years. The Europa League is the second tier of European club competition, and Emery has now won it five times, a record no other coach has matched.

The details are not finished. Talks are still under way on the finances and how long the new deal will run. Villa plan to announce the agreement once everything is settled, and that is unlikely to happen before the weekend.

The timing is tight for another reason. Villa travel to Manchester United at Old Trafford this weekend. Emery has also been linked with United, should they decide to sack their manager, Michael Carrick. United have not made any move.

For Villa supporters, the picture is one of stability. A coach who has just won a trophy is talking about staying, and the club is talking about building around him. Whether that carries through to a signed contract, and what it means on the pitch at Old Trafford, will become clearer over the coming days.