Unai Emery confirms talks over new Aston Villa contract

Villa announced on Wednesday that discussions had taken place about the club's long-term plans beyond 2029, when Emery's current agreement expires.

The Spaniard subsequently confirmed that he had held positive talks with chairman Nassef Sawiris, with further discussions scheduled for next week.

"My ambition is to keep our consistency and how we are improving and building lots of things positively. It is a huge challenge," Emery told reporters.

The Villa manager believes the club have made significant progress and wants to maintain that momentum through continued investment in the squad and infrastructure.

He pointed to plans for a new stand at Villa Park, which will increase the stadium's capacity, as evidence of the owners' ambition.

Emery also highlighted Villa's growing financial strength, with increased revenue from European football and player sales allowing them to invest in young talent.

"I had a good meeting with Nassef Sawiris, very good meeting, very positive. Let's talk next week, trying to get everything we spoke about together," he said.

"We were speaking about how we can set our project stronger with a deal, yes."

Emery's future has attracted attention amid links with Manchester United, but his involvement in discussions about Villa's long-term direction suggests he remains committed to the project at Villa Park.

His immediate focus, however, is Sunday's Premier League meeting with United, as Villa look to extend their five-match unbeaten league run.

Villa face a difficult challenge at Old Trafford, where they have lost their last six matches. Emery admitted that his side have struggled at the venue in recent years.

"We did not win one match there in four years," he said.

The Spaniard acknowledged United's inconsistent league form but warned that they remain a dangerous opponent.

"They have not been consistent in the league, but they should recover it, but hopefully not against us."