Unai Emery will be swapping Champions League football for a team heading towards the Championship if, as expected, he leaves Villarreal to take charge of Newcastle United.
Here, we look at what awaits the Spaniard at St James’ Park…
Unai Emery has his work cut out at Newcastle and his in-tray is already piling up...
SORT OUT THE DEFENCE
Only Norwich have conceded more than Newcastle’s 23 goals in the Premier League this season. The personnel at the back are largely the same as those who played in the Championship five years ago and, while under Rafa Benitez they were drilled into a stingy unit, they look bereft of confidence and cohesion right now.