Unai Emery admits contact with Newcastle but Villarreal remain hopeful ex-Arsenal boss will snub Toon interest
UNAI EMERY admitted his is in contact with Newcastle – but Villarreal are still hopeful he will stay put.
The former Arsenal boss is the first choice of the club’s new Saudi owners to replace axed Steve Bruce.
They hope to have Emery, 49, in place by the weekend, when the mega-rich relegation battlers face Brighton.
And Emery, who took charge of Villarreal’s 2-0 Champions League win over Young Boys on Tuesday night, revealed talks are ongoing.
The Spaniard said: “There has been interest from Newcastle. Before saying yes or no I will talk to the club.
“I have not said ‘no’ to Newcastle. If this gets confirmed I will talk to the Villarreal directors.
“I have spoken to the chairman and told him there is interest but no offer yet, which will have to be to me and the club.”
If Newcastle do persuade Emery to return to the Prem they would need to pay Villarreal £5.1million in compensation.
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The LaLiga club’s president Fernando Roig still hopes the four-time Europa League winner will see out his contract until 2023.
Before the Young Boys clash, Roig said: “I am sure that his mind is not drifting elsewhere.
“I know Unai has a contract with us and contracts are there to be fulfilled.
“We hope that we will be able to see that contract through until the end.”
Emery lasted just 18 months at Arsenal after arriving in May 2018.
The Gunners finished fifth in his only full season after fading near the finish and lost the Europa League final 4-1 to Chelsea.
But the ex-Sevilla and Paris Saint-Germain chief has rebuilt his reputation at Villarreal.
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And they beat Manchester United in last season’s Europa League final.
Newcastle, though, now have the money to attract big names following their £305million takeover.
And Emery has emerged as their top target over the past few days, ahead of former Bournemouth chief Eddie Howe and Paulo Fonseca.