Aston Villa has been advised to offload one of their prominent players to fund summer acquisitions, or they risk violating the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Securing Champions League football for the 2024/25 season brings the promise of high-profile signings and a substantial financial boost, estimated at £50 million just for participating, along with additional earnings from progress in the tournament and television rights.
However, Neil Moxley, a sports analyst with The Mirror cautions that the situation is more complex. He points out that the club’s recent financial losses could lead them to exceed the £105 million loss threshold over three years, necessitating at least one major player sale this summer to avoid a Premier League points deduction.
In the 2021/22 season, minimal profits were recorded following Jack Grealish’s £100 million transfer to Manchester City. In contrast, the 2022/23 season saw Villa incur substantial losses of £120 million. Additionally, last summer’s signings included Moussa Diaby for a club-record £51 million and Pau Torres for £31.5 million.
Aston Villa is in a precarious ‘black hole’ financially… the club must sell players to prevent a fate similar to that of Everton and Nottingham Forest, both of whom faced points deductions this season.
These financial figures have led Moxley to suggest that Aston Villa is in a precarious ‘black hole’ financially. He warns that the club must sell players to prevent a fate similar to that of Everton and Nottingham Forest, both of whom faced points deductions this season.
Among the players Moxley mentions as potential departures are Douglas Luiz and Emiliano Martinez. However, he identifies Jacob Ramsey as the most likely candidate for sale due to his status as a homegrown player, which would result in pure profit for the club.
Moxley also asserts that Ollie Watkins, who scored 19 goals this season, will be ‘off limits’ to interested clubs, despite recent reports of interest from Manchester United.
