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Man Utd face instant £12m Unai Emery issue as Aston Villa boss ‘in top two candidates’

Unai Emery has many admirers in high places but it appears the Aston Villa boss is now on Manchester United's radar as Michael Carrick continues to come under pressure…

By Patrick Austen-Hardy · Birmingham Mail

Published: Friday, 23 October 2026 at 10:14 AM

Key Things to Know

Manchester United face major financial obstacles regarding compensation and salary if they target Aston Villa manager Unai Emery.
Unai Emery is under contract with Aston Villa until 2029 and earns between £10m and £12m per year.
Luring Emery away could require United to surpass the record £21.5m compensation Chelsea paid for Graham Potter.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Manchester United reportedly face significant financial hurdles if they pursue Aston Villa manager Unai Emery to replace under-pressure boss Michael Carrick. Emery earns between £10m and £12m annually under a contract running through 2029, meaning United would likely need to match or exceed the record £21.5m managerial compensation fee paid by Chelsea for Graham Potter.

Alternative options considered less costly include Julian Nagelsmann, along with free agents Eddie Howe, Antonio Conte, and former Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna.

Read the full article on Birmingham Mail

Man Utd face instant £12m Unai Emery issue as Aston Villa boss ‘in top two candidates’

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