MADRID: Unai Emery is expected to replace Laurent Blanc as coach of Paris Saint-Germain after leaving UEFA Europa League holders Sevilla.

Emery, after the final victory over Liverpool last month, described his relationship with Sevilla as like a marriage, while conceding that football could be unpredictable.

A Sevilla statement said: “Sevilla FC has received a formal communication from the lawyers of Unai Emery in which we are informed it is Emery’s intention to unilaterally terminate his employment with Sevilla due to his desire not to continue in his role of coach of the first team for the 2016/17 season.”

The aggressivey self-promoting former Chile manager Jorge Sampaoli has been lined up to take over. He starts contract talks today.

Emery has guided the Spanish club to a three-year command of the secondary European club competition which has impressed the Qatari owners of French champions PSG who are disappointed the club have not made more impression under Blanc in the Champions League.

Blanc’s uncertain status has been a source of discussion ever since the runaway victory in the French league.

Asked about his future last week, Blanc said: “If there any changes of policy then, obviously, we all need to discuss them together.”

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