Unai Emery close to signing new Aston Villa contract to ward off Man Utd interest

Unai Emery is on the verge of signing a new long-term contract with Aston Villa, effectively shutting the door on Manchester United's interest in the former Arsenal manager. The Spanish head coach has been heavily linked with the Old Trafford coaching position as pressure mounts on Michael Carrick, but he now appears set to commit his future to Villa Park.

Emery is reportedly close to finalizing a long-term extension, which will run well beyond his current deal, set to expire in 2029. The club's success under Emery's leadership has been impressive, culminating in the Europa League title and two Champions League campaigns. This significant boost for the club has come at a considerable cost to United, who would have had to pay nearly £20 million in release fees to secure his services.

Emery held advanced talks with Aston Villa chairman Nassef Sawiris, president of football operations Roberto Olabe, and director of football operations Damián Vidagany, following the club's Champions League match in Barcelona. These discussions have resulted in a clear commitment from Villa beyond 2029, signaling a complete transformation at Villa Park.

Emery's tenure at Villa has seen the club evolve from selling six starters during their Europa League final victory to rebuilding the team with ten new signings, including a club-record signing in Nicolas Jackson. The club's hierarchy aims to maintain this upward trajectory, with both Vidagany and Olabe also in talks to extend their respective contracts and continue the project.

As Emery finalizes his future with Villa, the managerial situation at United remains unstable. Carrick recently ended a nine-match winless run with a 3-2 victory against Roma, but his future is uncertain. The two clubs will face each other in the Premier League on Sunday.