Magpies are ready to put Emery at the helm
NEWCASTLE expect to appoint former Arsenal boss Unai Emery as their new manager this week. Sources have confirmed Amanda Staveley and the club’s Saudi-led consortium hope to conclude a deal for the Villarreal boss before Saturday’s trip to Brighton. Sportsmail reported on October 15 that Emery was on the shortlist to replace Steve Bruce, and has a buyout clause in the region of £6million. Talks accelerated last Sunday and Staveley believes she has got her man to lead the team out of the relegation zone. Discussions had taken place with several candidates or their representatives since Bruce was sacked — including Paulo Fonseca, Eddie Howe and Roberto Martinez. But Emery has emerged as the No 1 target and the new owners are confident of finalising terms on an initial three-year deal. If successful, it will mark a return to the Premier League for the Spaniard two years after being sacked by Arsenal. He took charge of Villarreal in the summer of 2020 and won the Europa League in May — beating Manchester United on penalties. He also won the competition in three successive seasons with Sevilla. Emery was in the dugout last night as Villarreal hosted Young Boys in the Champions League. Asked about news of Emery’s impending exit, his current president Fernando Roig said: ‘I don’t think so. He’s a professional and we have two big games coming up. He has a contract with us and contracts are there to be fulfilled. I have no doubts about his professionalism.’ Emery’s anticipated appointment will represent a coup for Staveley, who has led the manager search. He will be leaving a team competing in the Champions League for one in the bottom three of the Premier League and winless in ten matches. There are still another ten league fixtures before the January window opens, and the new owners have vowed to do whatever is necessary to make sure the club stays in the top flight. Emery’s likely arrival will be welcomed by fans, who point to his success abroad as reason to be optimistic. After leaving Sevilla, he won the French Treble with Paris Saint-Germain in 2018. But he lasted just 18 months at Arsenal and was sacked in November 2019, despite guiding the Gunners to the Europa League final earlier that year.