Unai Emery plans talks with Aston Villa’s billionaire owners over January signings to sustain their Premier League title push… with a forward and a midfielder top of the shopping list

Unai Emery will hold talks with Aston Villa’s billionaire owners as he tries to keep his team’s title bid on track by strengthening his squad next month.

Despite their 3-2 defeat at Manchester United on Boxing Day, Villa are only three points off the top of the table and face relegation-threatened Burnley at home on Saturday.

Villa’s January plans are likely to be dictated by which players they can move on but Emery has not ruled out further signings.

‘We are analysing and meeting (transfer chief) Monchi and the owners to discuss how we can improve and change something in the squad,’ Emery explained. 

‘I am very happy, we may change something but not 100 per cent.

Villa’s owners Wes Edens (left) and Nassef Sawiris (right) will be asked for a transfer kitty 

Villa are just three points off the top of the Premier League table ahead of the weekend 

‘We are going to do it only if we can get something to really help. We are going to be alert in case we have the possibility to add to our squad. 

‘We are happy and with the players we have we are getting good results. I don’t know if we will do anything or not.’

Villa’s priorities would be to find cover in attack and central midfield, with Ollie Watkins the only reliable centre-forward and Leander Dendoncker not trusted entirely by Emery as back-up to Douglas Luiz and Boubacar Kamara in central midfield.

Emery also vowed to stick to the high defensive line he insists on even though it puts Villa at risk against pacy teams.

He added: ‘In the last two matches we weren’t successful as we only got one point, but we played like I want. Even when we lose, I don’t want to change how we work.’