Aston Villa are now looking for a new sporting director, but any arrival will need to be personally backed by Unai Emery, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Lange’s future up in the air

Johan Lange is the current sporting director at Villa Park and has been at the club since 2020. The 43-year-old’s future appears to be up in the air, though, with reports in recent weeks suggesting he is fighting for his job.

His transfer record has come in for question by the Villa hierarchy, and it looks as if NSWE are now firmly on the hunt for his potential successor.

The Latest: New sporting director update

FI provided an update in the last 48 hours regarding a possible off-field move at Villa Park.

They revealed that the club are ‘actively seeking a new sporting director’ who has Emery’s ‘seal of approval’ and can work closely with the Villa manager.

The Verdict: Fully behind Emery

Having Emery involved in the pursuit of a new sporting director is certainly a statement of intent by those at the very top at Bodymoor Heath.

NSWE have already promised Emery a ‘huge’ 2023 budget, and if they are unsure about Lange, it makes sense for a change heading into the New Year.

Perhaps this could have been done slightly earlier, as it seems as if NSWE, Lange and Emery may have to work closely with the transfer window now open, but by the summer, the Danish director could be out the door.