Aston Villa are now eyeing a summer move to sign a Premier League midfielder, sparking Manchester United's summer fear that they could yet lose one of their stars.
Emery anticipates "exciting" top four battle
The Villans have garnered plenty of praise this season, and rightly so, but there's no denying that they are beginning to stutter. With one win in their last five games in all competitions, their drop in form comes at a time when the chasing pack are beginning to find form in the Premier League.
Man United are particularly closing in after an excellent turnaround under interim boss Michael Carrick, who is yet to lose a game. Unai Emery is well aware of the threat that teams below Villa pose, too. He's anticipating a difficult but "exciting" battle to keep hold of their position.
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The Villans have dropped off as of late.
He told reporters: "I know it’s going to be very, very difficult to keep our position. Why? Because we have three teams behind us: United, Chelsea and Liverpool.
"Our position for them is their objective, their priority and their challenge, and they have the power to get us. Of course, our challenge is to try to keep the advantage we have now, and try to play looking forward, and tomorrow, three points, no more.
"We are going to fight, day by day, next week, next month, very exciting moments. Everything can happen, but exciting moments."
Up next for Aston Villa is, of course, a Midlands derby against Wolverhampton Wanderers. It's a game that they'll be expecting to win, with Wolves sat at the foot of the table, but Arsenal's recent slip up at Molineux suggests that the Villans will need full concentration.
Securing all three points would go a long way towards finishing above Man United, before potentially swooping in to deal the Red Devils a transfer blow in the summer.
Aston Villa eyeing Mason Mount move
According to former Man Utd scout Mick Brown, via Football Insider, Aston Villa are now eyeing a move to sign Mason Mount this summer - leaving those at Old Trafford fearful that they could lose their midfielder.
"Everybody I speak to says what a wonderful trainer he is, he works very hard and his general demeanor around the club and in the dressing room is good.
"That’s always good to hear if you’re looking into a player because it’s important to bring people in who have the right attitude and application.
"I’m told Aston Villa have been keen on him before and I’m sure he’s still on their radar, and then you’ve got teams like Fulham who will be looking if he is made available."
For Man United, it would be a frustrating blow. They've got every reason to fear Mount's exit if Villa come calling in the middle of what has been a fantastic rise under Emery.
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It would bring an end to the midfielder's Old Trafford spell, which has been centred around ill-timed injuries as he threatens to become a case of what might have been, raking in £150,000-a-week as one of the club's top earners.