EXCLUSIVE
There is one Premier League manager that would be a huge upgrade on current Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag.
That's according to talkSPORT's Darren Bent, who believes that Unai Emery is the ideal candidate to take charge at Old Trafford, but warned that it will be difficult for the Red Devils to land his signature.
4
Emery's Aston Villa stunned title contenders Arsenal with their latest 2-0 win at the Emirates to boost their hopes of Champions League qualification as they moved three points ahead of their nearest rivals Tottenham.
The result prompted Bent and talkSPORT Drive co-host Andy Goldstein to discuss the possibility of the Spaniard replacing Erik ten Hag as Man United manager next season, with uncertainty surrounding the Dutchman's future at the club.
And Bent, who scored 12 goals in 61 appearances for the Villains between 2011 and 2015, was in no doubt that Emery would be a huge improvement on Ten Hag if he were to join United.
When asked by Goldstein if the former Arsenal manager would be the right man for the job, Bent replied: “Yeah of course he is. You’ve got Ten Hag and he's leagues above him. Like leagues!”
Read More On Man United
United sit seventh in the league, 13 points behind Villa, who occupy fourth place, and are also in the quarter finals of the Europa Conference League.
The ex-Tottenham and England striker pointed to Emery's total transformation of Villa, having taken over from Steven Gerrard in October 2022 with the club 17th in the Premier League table, before guiding them to European qualification in the same season.
He said: “He's been incredible, absolutely incredible.
"[Under] Steven Gerrard, [they were] struggling. There was performances from Steven Gerrard where we'd go ‘Oh! not great’
Most read in Football
4
4
“He came in there and pretty much transformed them overnight."
Bent went on to highlight the four-time Europa League winner's success in developing players individually, including 19-league-goal striker Ollie Watkins, captain John McGinn and Ezri Konsa, who received his first senior England call-up under Emery's leadership.
Mark Goldbridge claims Manchester United 'don't belong' in the Champions League and believes the players aren't good enough for their style of play
He added: “What he's done has been absolutely incredible. I mean the identity they've got, the way he's making certain players better."
But for Bent, Emery's success at Villa Park means that it would be incredibly difficult for him to consider switching Birmingham for Manchester.
4
He argued: “So would he leave his current post? Listen, Manchester United's a bigger club, that's a fact.
"But I think to convince him to leave, it would have to take one hell of an effort for Manchester United. All their ducks would have to be aligned for him to even consider it.
“Because right now, at the minute Aston Villa look like they're only going one way and that's up.”
Goldstein however, believed that the Villa boss would be unable to turn down the chance of managing a club of Man United's stature, despite their inferior league position.
The presenter explained: "If you've got the opportunity to manage one of the biggest clubs in the world.
"If this was Barcelona, if Barcelona slipped to 8th [in the league], and Unai Emery had the chance to manage them, he's going.
He continued: "If it's Man United, he’s going." before adding: “They’re just bigger clubs, and the opportunity to have one of them on your CV, from my money, is a complete no-brainer.”
Despite this, Bent maintained his belief that Emery would not accept an offer from the 20-time English champions, highlighting the huge rebuild he would have to oversee at Old Trafford.
The former striker said: “I don't think he'll go to Manchester United in the summer regardless.
Read More on talkSPORT
“There’s so much that’s got to go at your club. You’ve got to get players out, players in. Who’s the sporting director? There’s so much that has to be done at United. Why would he leave Villa?"
Bent then issued his final advice to 52-year-old coach, as he urged: "Unai, stay where you're at!"