Next Aston Villa manager: Steve Bruce demands talks with new owners amid Thierry Henry speculation

The manager's future has been under the spotlight since Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens bought a 55 per cent majority shareholding last week

Nick Mashiter
Wednesday 25 July 2018 08:42 BST
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Boss Steve Bruce will seek assurances over his Aston Villa future when he meets the new owners on Wednesday.

The manager's future has been under the spotlight since Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens bought a 55 per cent majority shareholding last week.

It is understood Bruce is due to sit down with at least one of Sawiris and Edens in a scheduled meeting on Wednesday.

Bruce's future has been in limbo and the 57-year-old will ask for clarity amid speculation former Arsenal striker and current Belgium assistant manager Thierry Henry has been lined up to replace him.

Bruce's future is in doubt
Bruce's future is in doubt (Getty)

Ahead of the meeting, Bruce was still expected to be in charge for the friendly against West Ham at Walsall on Wednesday evening.

Villa lost the Sky Bet Championship play-off final 1-0 to Fulham in May which plunged them into chaos.

The club missed a tax payment of £4.2million as it emerged owner Tony Xia had struggled to fund Villa all of last season.

Former chief executive Keith Wyness was sacked, having initially been suspended, after falling out with Xia, who was unhappy Wyness was sounding out potential investors to safeguard the club's financial future.

Technical director Steve Round, a key ally for Wyness and Bruce, was also dismissed this month.

Henry has been strongly linked with the job
Henry has been strongly linked with the job (AFP/Getty Images)

Xia needed to find around £70million to meet their operating costs for the season, leaving him to seek the fresh investment Wyness was looking for anyway.

He rejected an offer of £30million for 30 per cent before turning to Sawiris and Edens.

The future of Jack Grealish is also likely to be on the agenda for Bruce and the owners.

Villa still need to find £40million to comply with Financial Fair Play rules, with Grealish their most saleable asset.

The 22-year-old wants to stay at Villa but could still attract a bid from Tottenham.

Leicester were interested but opted to sign James Maddison from Norwich, with Grealish uninterested in a move to the King Power Stadium.

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