Unai Emery ‘to lean on’ Roberto Olabe in Villa summer recruitment | OneFootball

"We all want the same thing at Aston Villa, but we need specialists."

"My specialty is not recruitment - I’ve always wanted to focus on the pitch, on the grass, on preparing what happens from the offices onto the field."

Speaking to El Diario Vasco, Emery said: "Since I started working with Roberto 20 years ago at Almería, I’ve had great professional and personal respect for him. I need people who contribute in all areas so we can keep growing."

"I’m ultimately responsible, but we share that responsibility. But I insist - my place has always been on the pitch. Outside of that, whatever Roberto says, I follow him completely."

Olabe, one of Emery’s oldest friends, replaced Monchi as Villa’s president of football operations last summer and built his reputation at Real Sociedad. Emery retains the final say on signings.

Villa’s summer will be a balancing act to strengthen while staying within Uefa financial fair play rules. Emery wants a striker, two wide players and a right-back, with goalkeeper options lined up if Emi Martinez leaves. Newcastle’s Harvey Barnes and Paris Saint-Germain’s teenage winger Ibrahim Mbaye are on the shortlist as Villa seek more pace.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com