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

Aston Villa will be well placed to negotiate a large compensation package if Manchester United make a serious attempt to appoint Unai Emery. The Villa boss is understood to be 'in the top two candidates' for the United job.

Current Red Devils boss Michael Carrick is under huge pressure after winning just two of his first 11 matches this season. Emery has previously been linked with United, but he also extended his contract at Villa Park until 2029 in April 2024.

He's understood to be earning between £10m and £12m, and earned sizeable bonuses after guiding Villa into the top four and winning the Europa League. His salary and recent contract extension means Villa will hold all the cards if United decide Emery is their man.

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The record compensation fee for a manager remains the £21.5m Chelsea paid Brighton and Hove Albion to secure Graham Potter and his backroom team at Stamford Bridge, reports the Manchester Evening News.

United would likely need to match or exceed this amount if they're serious about luring Emery away from Villa Park.

Alternative managerial candidates would prove less costly and simpler to appoint than last season's Europa League champion. The Guardian reports that former Bayern Munich and Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann is amongst the front-runners for the Old Trafford position.

Additionally, former Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe is also a free agent, as is Premier League champion and ex-Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, who was previously touted for the United role.

Kieran McKenna is another available option, having been considered a contender in 2024 while still in charge at Ipswich Town. He continues to command respect at United following his stint as under-18s boss from 2016 to 2018 and his time as assistant coach from 2018 to 2021.

Emery will take his Villa side to Old Trafford in the near future, assuming he remains at Villa Park. The Villans host Manchester City this weekend, before taking on Bournemouth in the League Cup the following Wednesday.

After that, Villa host Fulham on October 31, travel to Barcelona on November 3 and then face United on November 8.

Emery endured a difficult start to the new campaign, losing to Brighton (4-0), Arsenal (1-0), drawing with Hull City (0-0) and losing to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

However, Villa's campaign is now back on track with wins away against Tottenham Hotspur (3-2) and away to Newcastle United (1-0) with a 2-2 home draw with Brentford sandwiched in-between. Villa have also started the Champions League campaign convincingly with victories over Club Brugge (3-2), Fenerbahce (6-0) and Viking (3-1).

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