Unai Emery wants Villarreal duo as first two transfers as Aston Villa boss

Unai Emery will run the rule over two potential signings for Aston Villa when his new club host his old side on Thursday.

Emery enjoyed a winning start in the Premier League with Villa in November after quitting Spanish outfit Villarreal. The ex-Arsenal coach will be backed by Villa's billionaire owners next month and has been working with sporting director Johan Lange to draw up a list of targets.

Emery is keen to address Villa's lack of width after wingers Anwar El Ghazi, Trezeguet and Bertrand Traore were all moved on under predecessor Steven Gerrard.

Among their potential replacements are Emery's former players Arnaut Danjuma, 25, and Nicolas Jackson, 21, who could both be in action this Thursday when Villarreal visit Villa Park for a friendly.

Former Bournemouth ace Danjuma scored 16 goals and had four assists last term but the Holland international missed out on a place in his country's World Cup squad.

Senegal starlet Jackson played once for his country in Qatar and has three goals and two assists this term for the La Liga side.

Jackson has already been compared to superstar Sadio Mane since excelling after his arrival in Europe in 2019. Villarreal plucked him from Senegalese outfit Casa Sports, where he was playing first team football at the age of 18. He initially went into Villarreal's B team before Emery to promote him to their first team set-up.

Emery and his Villa squad are due back in the UK after a warm weather training camp in Dubai where they beat Chelsea 1-0 after drawing 2-2 against Brighton. It saw Villa lift the inaugural CBF | Al Wahda Challenge Cup.

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