Aston Villa could sell Youri Tielemans to please UEFA after latest wage reveal
Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans is of interest to Saudi Pro League sides ahead of the summer transfer window.
That’s according to the Daily Mail, which suggests that the Belgian could be sold as the Villans battle UEFA financial rules.
The West Midlands outfit were fined £9.5million for breaching the regulations last summer, stating that wage outgoings cannot exceed 80 per cent of a club’s revenue.
With the limit having been lowered to 70 per cent, Aston Villa will likely need a big sale over the summer, which will satisfy UEFA moving forward.
Tielemans remains sidelined for Unai Emery currently, and is a crucial cog in the Spaniard’s midfield when fit, but he could be in line for a move away from Villa Park at the end of the season.
Youri Tielemans is crucial for Aston Villa – but a move may be required
After a slow start following his move from Leicester City in 2023, Tielemans has continued to grow in importance throughout his time in the Second City.
Now a crucial part of Villa’s midfield, supporters would be gutted to lose him at the end of the season, but he may be the most suitable option when it comes to a big sale.
The 28-year-old made the move from East to West Midlands in 2023 following Leicester’s shock relegation to the Championship.
The crucial factor that may play a part now is the fact that Tielemans arrived on a free transfer.
It’s stated that he is considered the Villans’ top earner alongside Emi Martinez. So not only would his wages be off the books, Villa would generate a significant profit on the midfielder, having signed for nothing just three years ago.
Such a move would bring huge financial benefits to B6, who have been battling with the financial regulations throughout their rise under Emery.
Youri Tielemans could fire Aston Villa back to Champions League
Villa were condemned to the Europa League on the final day of last season, which itself brought about certain financial implications.
Champions League qualification alone brings in around £16million, while performance-related bonuses saw their end tally hit an estimated £73.1m after reaching the quarter-finals.
For comparison, if Emery’s side were to win the Europa League this season, the estimated income would fall somewhere in the £30-40m group, emphasising just why qualification for Europe’s premier competition is so critical this term.
Villa are eagerly awaiting the return of Tielemans, who is ever so crucial to Emery’s midfield.
In recent weeks, the Villans have looked slow and ponderous, with no real creativity or drive coming out of midfield.
Tielemans has an innate feel for the tempo of a match and is the perfect controller in the middle of the park who would eradicate the end-to-end chaos seen in recent outings.
Ahead of a potential summer departure, he could make one final difference in the Champions League race, bringing a much more beneficial windfall in the process.
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