Aston Villa to ‘break wage structure’ this summer to meet Unai Emery transfer demands – Sky Sports journalist
We’re delighted to welcome Sky Sports and The Athletic’s Dan Bardell as our exclusive Aston Villa columnist each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the club…
Dan Bardell believes Aston Villa will break their wage structure in the summer transfer market to meet the ambitious demands of Unai Emery.
After qualifying for the Europa Conference League with a final day of the season victory over Brighton, the Villans are expected to bolster their squad with a number of new personnel.
Fabrizio Romano reported on 30 May that Villa have submitted an opening bid to bring Real Madrid free agent Marco Asensio to the West Midlands this summer amid further interest from PSG and Italian clubs.
Aston Villa currently have the 7th most expensive first-team wage bill in the Premier League, at a total of £89,880,000 per year. [The Mirror, 18 March]
However, speaking exclusively to Villa News, Bardell predicted that this total could be raised by the arrival of some big-name players on lucrative contracts.
He said: “I think Villa will sign some top players this summer because of how well they have done since Unai Emery came into the club, and how good Emery’s reputation is in the game right now.
“They know that he will improve players.
“Villa are an attractive proposition because they are going to be in Europe and they’ve got Unai Emery. They are progressing in the right direction.
“If Villa want to offer the big wages, they can. I think they will break their wage structure this summer, and I think someone will come in as the highest-paid player.
“I know Emery is very, very ambitious, and he wants to try for a high level of player this summer to take Villa to that next level.”
In order to fund such transfer business, Villa will be expected to part company with a number of first-team players.
Decisions await on loanees Marvelous Nakamba, Morgan Sanson and Keinan Davis, while academy graduates Finn Azaz and Arjan Raikhy are also out of contract at Villa Park this summer.
In other Aston Villa news, one academy graduate has picked up an injury which could derail his pre-season plans.