‘Aston Villa attract most attention over PSR worry’ as deadline approaches
Aston Villa’s summer transfer window is set to be heavily dictated to by their current financial situation.
The Villans are one of several Premier League clubs who have concerns over their ability to comply with the league’s PSR rulings. If they fail to fall in line with those guidelines, then they face the possibility of being punished with heavy fines or even a points deduction.
Those concerns would have been eased somewhat had Unai Emery’s side qualified for the Champions League, but after being forced to settle for the Europa League instead, it could be a fairly low-key summer at Villa Park.
Villa are also thought to be in hot water with UEFA, having already breached some of their financial restrictions over the last few seasons.
Football finance expert delivers Aston Villa ‘most concerning’ claim
The B6 outfit are just one of a multitude of Premier League clubs who are currently hovering very close to the league’s PSR threshold.
However, while Villa are part of a larger group, they have been singled out by a football finance expert as being the club who are most at threat of potentially receiving a punishment.
Kieran Maguire has said that he expects the Villans to have to sell several first-team players before the end of the financial year, 30 June, in order to balance the spending that propelled them into the Champions League.
“I think of the 20 Premier League clubs, Villa are the ones who we’re most concerned about,” Maguire told Sky Sports News (11 June, 12.32 pm).
“Last season, when they did qualify for the Champions League, for every £100 of revenue that Aston Villa brought in, they spent £91 on wages. Those players will have had contract step-ups for qualifying for the Champions League.
“And remember, Villa have done very well in that competition. So that will be a plus. And they have sold some players as well, in both the last summer market and the January one.
“But I think there is still a perception that Villa will have to box clever. And of all of the clubs under pressure to sell players by June 30, I guess they’re the ones who are the club that gives the most attention because their spending in the last couple of years before getting into Europe was so extensive.”
Villa must be sensible in the transfer market this summer
If Villa are to avoid a potential punishment from the Premier League, then they must work hard to ensure they maximise the money that is available for them to spend this summer.
They have made drastic progress under Emery in recent years, but if they want to retain their current standing as one of the main challengers to the ‘Big Six’, then it’s imperative that they continue to strengthen their squad as much as possible.
However, under their current constraints, they are unlikely to be able to attract a big-money target, which means instead, they must fix their attention on cost-effective ways to add to their ranks.
Deals for the likes of Marcus Rashford, who now has a £40million pricetag on his head, are likely to be unattainable, but someone like Lazio’s Alessio Romagnoli, who has been linked with a move to Villa Park, could be a brilliant way to add nous and experience to the side without a significant outlay.
Emery, Monchi and Co. will undoubtedly want to avoid standing still this summer, as now they have a taste for the Champions League, they will be desperate to become a regular feature. However, they must be extremely mindful about how they conduct their business.