Aston Villa forced into deals they wouldn’t usually do amid PSR worries
Dan Bardell believes that Aston Villa will sell Tim Iroegbunam to Everton and buy Lewis Dobbin in a deal which will benefit both sides for PSR.
The Toffees have “completed a deal” to sign the 20-year-old this summer in a transfer worth £9 million, according to Fabrizio Romano (20 June).
This has coincided with a report from The Athletic (19 June) that the Villans have held “positive talks” to sign Dobbin this summer.
Sky Sports and talkSPORT journalist Bardell believes these deals have been done in an attempt by both clubs to bypass PSR concerns before the 30 June deadline.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Bardell said: “I think that £9 million is a good fee. We’re living in a world where PSR is forcing clubs into doing things that they wouldn’t usually do.
“What’s going on here is that Villa have a young player who they can sell for a fee to Everton. Everton also have a young player in Lewis Dobbin who they can sell to Villa.
“To cook the books, Villa and Everton will sell each other a player and it makes it looks like there’s £9m profit for both teams.
“For teams that are in the same sort of situation with PSR they are starting to work together to make their books look a certain type of way.
“It was quite clear that Emery never really trusted Iroegbunam after Dendoncker was let go. If he isn’t going to break through then it makes sense to do it. If it wasn’t for PSR this sort of deal wouldn’t be happening.“
Tim Iroegbunam to leave Aston Villa and join Everton
Iroegbunam has never been favoured by Emery even when he looked to be the ideal replacement when Boubacar Kamara got injured.
He wasn’t afforded the chance, even when Dendoncker was loaned out in a move to Napoli which left the club without a recognised defensive midfielder.
Emery decided to use Douglas Luiz, who now looks set for Juventus, or Youri Tielemans in that role instead of the England youth international.
Even on the last day of the season against Crystal Palace (19 May), Calum Chambers was favoured in an unfamiliar midfield position.
With all that being said, it certainly makes sense to let him go this summer, especially with a fee as high as £9m being mooted.
With Villa linked to the likes of Ross Barkley and Weston McKennie, the midfield is going to be stacked and Iroegbunam doesn’t have a spot.
It is frustrating to lose a youngster with potential but it is a deal which appears to suit all parties.
In other Aston Villa news, Ty Bracey is chuffed to bits as transfer news emerges.
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