Unai Emery unveils 'brutal' Aston Villa transfer plan was rejected

Aston Villa defender Calum Chambers was asked to leave the club several times during the summer and winter transfer windows, Unai Emery has rather brutally revealed.

The Villans' head coach directly requested Chambers' exit to reach a positive conclusion for both the club and the player but he refused to go. The former Arsenal defender has hardly played this season and remains on high wages, meaning a transfer away would theoretically make sense for all parties. Chambers doesn't see it that way, however.

"In the summer, I said let him leave. In the winter, I said let him leave. But he decided to stay here," Emery said on Saturday when asked about Chambers' transfer situation. Nonetheless, seemingly impressed by the player's desire to make a success of his Villa career, Emery said: "He's a very good man. I respect him a lot. I am including him in everything and today I am very happy for him."

Brought on for the second half as Villa were leading Nottingham Forest by three goals to one, Chambers was at fault alongside Matty Cash as Morgan Gibbs-White was allowed in behind far too easily to score and make it 3-2. The substitution was forced by an injury concern for Pau Torres as the Spaniard felt a small pain in the back of his leg.

In the end, Chambers settled down and helped Villa to a huge three points, helped by Leon Bailey extending the lead to four goals to two. Douglas Luiz scored twice in the game, while Ollie Watkins netted his 14th Premier League goal of the campaign. The Villans are now five points clear of Tottenham Hotspur and eight ahead of Manchester United.