Big-money Aaron Ramsey exit is ‘what big clubs do’ as Aston Villa agree fee
We’re delighted to welcome Sky Sports journalist Dan Bardell as our exclusive Aston Villa columnist each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the club…
Aston Villa’s deal to sell youngster Aaron Ramsey is “what big clubs do”, while it also helped the club’s Financial Fair Play obligations, according to Dan Bardell.
The Daily Mail reported (11 August) that Villa are close to selling the 20-year-old for £14million to newly-promoted Burnley, with Ramsey playing no senior minutes for the club.
While Ramsey has been tipped as one of Villa’s most promising youngsters following quality loan spells in the Championship, it is understood that the club have inserted a buy-back clause for the player in case he develops enough to be a regular for the first team.
Bardell claims that such a move shows how far Aston Villa has come as a club while noting that every club’s need to ensure they are following FFP regulations means the high-value sale is handy.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Bardell said: “This is a no-lose situation for Villa. They’re letting go of a player who has played zero minutes in the first team.
“£12million, which is pure profit. Every club right now is really looking at Financial Fair Play and it’s time for a lot of teams at the moment to make things work.
“Selling him for that fee, and Monchi as well is working on a buy-back clause as well, so it’s a no-lose situation for Villa. I don’t think he would have actually got loads of football this year.
“He may have got some minutes in the Europa Conference League, but realistically in the Premier League Villa aren’t losing too much.
“He’s joining Burnley, a progressive side entering the Premier League under a good manager in Vincent Kompany playing an expensive style of football. He’s going to learn and develop and if he’s a success, Villa can pull him back.
“It’s a positive for Burnley, it’s a positive for the player and I think it’s a positive for Villa. I like to see Villa doing smart things because, in my lifetime, they’ve often done not very smart things!
“This is what big clubs do. It’s a brilliant move.”
In other Aston Villa news, Bardell claims a “unique” injury ended the Aston Villa career of a £22million forward.