Club bosses have again been battling to remain within the top flight’s spending limits amid speculation they would need to offload a star player before Monday’s accounting deadline.
The proposed deal involving the women’s team, in a process similar to that previously used by Chelsea, has significantly eased the pressure for the moment and Villa are confident they will again be compliant with the league’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) without the need for urgent player sales.
Yet it is still possible a big-name player could be sold later in the window, as the club also work to become compliant with Uefa’s cost control measures which are entirely separate to PSR.
A report in The Telegraph claims the club has held talks over selling a 10 per cent stake in the women’s team for around £5.5million.
If agreed, that would allow Villa to sell the remaining 90 per cent to their own parent company, controlled by owner Nassef Sawiris, generating around £55m to help remain within the PSR limits.
It is believed the club have also considered the future sale of The Warehouse, the new music and events space being built in the North Stand car park, to further raise funds.
Premier League clubs are permitted to lose £105m over a three-season cycle and complying with the regulations has been an ongoing battle for Villa, who only avoided a breach 12 months ago thanks to the last-gasp £42.5m sale of midfielder Douglas Luiz to Juventus just hours before the accounting deadline.
Villa’s run to the quarter-final of the Champions League saw them back close to an extra £100m in revenues, while they also sold striker Jhon Duran for a fee which could eventually top £70m.
But the failure to qualify for the Champions League for a second season running will likely see a reduction of income for the 2025-26 campaign.
The outlook for this summer still remains tricky, even with the potential women’s team sale, with Villa also determined to reduce costs to help them comply with Uefa’s cost control measures.
These rules restrict the percentage of income clubs can spend on transfer fees, wages and agents’ fees and Villa expect to be fined for breaching the limits last season.
Reducing costs will likely mean at least one significant player sale. Villa are willing to discuss the sale of Emi Martinez should they receive an offer for the goalkeeper which matches their valuation.
Winger Leon Bailey, meanwhile, has been the subject of serious interest from Saudi Arabia while Lucas Digne, another top earner, has interest from Atletico Madrid.
Right-back Kaine Kesler-Hayden is poised to join Coventry for £3.5million, while talks are also ongoing with Hull over the possible sale of forward Louis Barry.
But while both deals for the academy stars will be recorded as pure profit, neither is believed essential to Villa remaining within the PSR limits for the 2024-25 campaign.
Even if the deal to sell the women’s team is not completed on Monday, it can still be included in this year’s accounts provided it has been agreed in principle.