Aston Villa target Monchi as sporting director after Christian Purslow leaves

Aston Villa have confirmed the departure of the chief executive Christian Purslow as they target Monchi from Sevilla as a key cog in their overhaul under Unai Emery. Purslow had been in charge of the day-to-day running of the club for almost five years but has left as part of a restructuring.

Villa are ramping up their attempts to appoint a sporting director to work closely with Emery. After Barcelona’s Mateu Alemany rejected a move to Villa Park, Emery is keen on reuniting with Monchi, with whom he worked at Sevilla. It is thought Monchi, the Sevilla sporting director, has a release clause of about £1.7m.

Emery has been given great freedom to reshape Villa after leading the club into Europe for the first time in 13 years despite succeeding Steven Gerrard last November amid relegation concerns.

A new sporting director would take care of the football business operations, in conjunction with Emery. Last month Villa announced the arrival of Chris Heck as president of business operations. Alberto Benito and Pablo Rodríguez have also recently been appointed to Villa’s recruitment staff. It is thought Purslow, who worked in executive positions at Chelsea and Liverpool, declined the chance to stay in a different role.

In a club statement Villa’s owners, Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, paid tribute to the 59-year-old for his role in overseeing “a transformation of the club both on and off the pitch”. Purslow said: “It has been a total privilege to lead Villa for the last five years. I am proud that I leave the club in a much better position on and off the pitch than when I arrived.”

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Villa are determined to