Aston Villa could face a nightmare scenario as Bayern Munich are rumoured to have listed Unai Emery as one of the candidates to replace manager Thomas Tuchel at the end of the season.
It’s been a season of thrills for Aston Villa, who are gunning for a place in the top four with 13 games remaining of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.
As well as fighting for a spot in the Champions League, Unai Emery’s side are preparing to re-enter the fold in the UEFA Europa Conference League, giving the Villans a shot at some European silverware.
The Spaniard has allowed everyone associated with Villa to dream, although rumours this week have hinted that a nightmare could soon unfold.
Unai Emery has been linked to the Bayern Munich job
This week, it was announced that Bayern Munich manager, Thomas Tuchel, will step down from his role at the Bavarian club at the end of the season.
For the first time since 2012, Bayern look poised to miss out on the Bundesliga title, with Tuchel’s side currently eight points behind Xabi Alonso’s unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen squad.
The pending departure of the former Chelsea boss will open a vacancy at the Allianz Arena, a prospect that could significantly affect Aston Villa.
According to German outlet Kicker, Bayern Munich are ‘following the development’ of Emery in the Midlands, with him said to be a potential candidate for the role that becomes available in the summer.
What the Unai Emery links to Bayern Munich could mean for Aston Villa
Considering Emery’s decorated managerial CV, it’s clear to see why the Spaniard would be named as a candidate for most jobs in European football.
Having won four Europa League titles, the 52-year-old has experience in England, Spain, France and Russia, with the opportunity now rumoured to be there in Germany.
Kicker’s report outlines the Spaniard’s progression with Villa and his European successes as the key reasons that Bayern are said to admire, although luckily for the Villans, he is not the top candidate.
Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso is the top candidate for the job due to his remarkable work this season, with him also speculated to be in the running for the vacancy at Anfield in the summer.
If Emery was to drive this Villa squad to the Champions League, it would be bizarre to imagine him leaving his post so prematurely based on the project he has built at the club.
That being said, the Bayern Munich job is a glorious opportunity for any manager to consider, leaving a worrying sense of anticipation going into the summer if more clarity is not shed prior.
