Bayern Munich are said to have put together a four-man shortlist regarding their next possible managerial appointment.
The German champions announced that current boss Thomas Tuchel is to depart the club at the end of the season, with rumours beginning to gather as to who will replace him.
Having been appointed back in March 2023, the former PSG boss helped Bayern narrowly claim the Bundesliga title last term but are now some eight points behind league leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
According to the latest reports from Kicker, Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is one of the names being considered for the position.
Emery, 52, has helped oversee a superb upturn at Villa Park ever since his arrival in October 2022.
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Currently battling it out for qualification to next season's Champions League, Villa have already boasted impressive wins over Arsenal and Manchester City in the Premier League this term.
Naturally, speculation regarding even bigger managerial roles has begun to gather in recent weeks, although Emery seems well-placed to remain with Villa for now.
"Hopefully I can stay here for a long time because I think we have a really good challenge here, thinking how to develop as a club, as a coach, myself," he told the media earlier this year.
"How we can take ambitious challenges we are trying to point to our future."
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Others said to be considered by Bayern are former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane and Xabi Alonso.
Zidane has been out of work since his departure at the Bernabeu in 2021, where he won three Champions League titles.
Alonso's stock continues to rise with fellow Bayer Leverkusen, with the former Liverpool midfielder looking to help the German side win a first ever top-flght title this season.
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Also heavily linked with the soon-to-be vacant Liverpool job, it seems plenty of managers are potentially set for pastures new this summer.
Topics: Bayern Munich, Bundesliga, Thomas Tuchel, Unai Emery, Aston Villa, Zinedine Zidane, Xabi Alonso
Matthew Holt