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Do Aston Villa need to sell players in the summer transfer window to conform to PSR?
Aston Villa are approaching a vital transfer window as Unai Emery seeks to improve his squad ahead of another season of balancing European football with the Premier League.
The Villans are yet to mathematically secure European qualification, however it’s all but confirmed with one more victory enough to clinch a top-seven finish for a third successive campaign. The upward trajectory Villa have been on under Emery has been extraordinary to watch and the transfers the club have managed to pull off recently have been sublime.
Big-name acquisitions such as Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio - albeit on loan - simply wouldn’t have been possible before Emery came through the doors at Villa Park. Such transfer business is very realistic now, though, thanks to the fine work put in on and off the field.
But will Villa be able to improve further and become Champions League regulars? To compete at such a level consistently, some deep pockets are required and Villa, despite raking in significant prize money and making some big sales in the past 12 months, are still walking a fine line when it comes to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR).
How bad is Aston Villa’s PSR situation and must they sell players?
Villa’s squad is arguably in the best nick it has been in for decades, but it may have to be weakened before it can be strengthened. The Villans must tread carefully due to some dreaded PSR concerns, just as they did last summer when they sold Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby for a combined £92 million.
The Premier League’s regulations state clubs cannot record a loss of over £105 million throughout a three-year period. You’d think Villa would be well in the clear considering last year’s sales and the recent £67.5 million departure of Jhon Duran, but they’re not in a safe position just yet.
High wages and an inferior revenue stream to the ‘big six’ clubs are the main factors, making it very difficult to stay competitive. Villa raked in the 18th-highest revenue in Europe last year at £263.7 million - as per the Deloitte Football Money League - but the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City, all in the top 10, each earned hundreds of millions more.
As it stands, approaching the next PSR deadline this summer, Villa are in a position where they must sell a player - or several - to avoid punishment from the Premier League. Birmingham World understands the club are currently on track to record a three-year loss of more than £105 million. It’s not by a huge margin, but more income is required.
Which players might Aston Villa sell to end their PSR worries?
Villa’s best way of making a quick buck is to sell one or several of their first-team players. One potential sacrifice could be attacking midfielder Emiliano Buendia, who is currently on loan at Bayer Leverkusen with an option to buy for £17 million. The Bundesliga club are unlikely to activate the clause, however, so Villa could seek interest from alternative parties.
One player loaned out who will be sold, however, is Kosta Nedeljkovic. The Serbian right-back joined RB Leipzig in the winter with an option to buy for £12 million. Unlike Leverkusen with Buendia, Leipzig are expected to go ahead with the deal.
To rake in a little more cash, Villa could turn to selling Enzo Barrenechea. The defensive midfielder is seen as a potential rotation option for Emery next season but with Valencia interested in making his loan deal permanent, Villa could be tempted to sell.
Letting players leave who haven’t played a big part this season could be the way forward, as Villa wouldn’t feel their losses too deeply. That’s bad news for the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea, who will be hoping Villa instead sell one of their star assets, Morgan Rogers.
The 22-year-old has made 51 appearances for the Villans this campaign, scoring 14 goals and notching 13 assists. Only Ollie Watkins, with 29, has more direct goal contributions for Villa this season. Then there’s star goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, linked with a move to Saudi Arabia. Villa may not have to sell him either if fringe players are sold instead.
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