Benitez urges Emery to stay at Aston Villa amid United links

Rafa Benitez has advised Unai Emery to remain at Aston Villa rather than take the Manchester United managerial job if it is offered, as reports say Emery has reservations about United’s decision-making structure. The former Liverpool manager said Emery should continue at Villa, where he has support and is building a team, and consider other options later if he cannot meet his ambitions there. Benitez’s advice comes amid speculation that United could look for a replacement for Michael Carrick, but the reports do not establish that the club has made an offer or decided to appoint Emery. Journalist Dean Jones reported that Emery has considerable reservations about the structure at United, including the involvement of senior figures in football decisions and the experience of previous managers working within the same system. Jones said Emery would need considerable convincing that a move represented the right next step. Emery has not been quoted directly on those concerns in the reports. A separate report said Emery prefers to have substantial influence over sporting decisions, including a say in the people he works with. United already has a structure involving co-owner Sir Jim...