Monchi is looking to raise funds for transfer and reduce Aston Villa's wage bill this summer
Aston Villa's president of football operations, Monchi
Aston Villa's president of football operations, Monchi
(Image: ANP via Getty Images)
Although Monchi has only signed one player so far - free agent Zépiqueno Redmond - the club has been making moves behind the scenes.
By the end of the window, Monchi and Damian Vidagany expect to have provided Unai Emery with a strong squad capable of once again competing across all competitions.
That task has been made slightly more difficult by UEFA, who have not only fined Villa for breaching financial rules but also imposed a sporting sanction.
In addition to an €11 million fine, UEFA has enforced a transfer restriction: Villa can only register a new player on their UEFA List A if the List A transfer balance is positive.
However, Villa do not see this as a major obstacle and are comfortable with UEFA’s demands after months of positive and transparent discussions.
One ‘big sale’ is still expected this summer, with goalkeeper Emi Martínez a likely candidate. He is reportedly valued at around £40 million.
At 32, Martínez’s value will decline after this window. He is also believed to be open to a new challenge in his career.
The Argentina number one is one of the highest earners at the club. Monchi has been tasked with reducing the wage bill by around 10 percent this summer, and by the same amount again next year.
Selling Martínez would bring in a significant sum for Villa, who also plan to generate funds through the sale of fringe players such as Emi Buendía, Kosta Nedeljkovic, and Álex Moreno.
Kaine Kesler-Hayden has already been sold for around £5 million, and Louie Barry could soon follow him out the door.
However, a £3.5 million move to Hull City collapsed after the Championship club became restricted to signing only free agents and loan players this summer.
Leon Bailey - who may also depart - could raise a fair amount, while Lucas Digne, who has one year left on his deal, remains one of the club’s top earners.
A decision on Enzo Barrenechea will also need to be made. Interest in the midfielder is strong from La Liga and other European leagues.
If all of the above players were sold this summer, Villa could potentially raise around £120 million through player sales.
Granted, the club would need to replace one of the world’s top goalkeepers, but if Lucas Chevalier were to come in, they’d be signing a player nine years younger than Martínez and a potential future France number one.
Lille reportedly value the 23-year-old at around £40 million. If that fee were amortised over a five-year deal, it would equate to £8 million per year.
Selling Digne would help reduce the wage bill but would likely only bring in about £10 million in transfer fees, so it’s up to the club’s transfer committee to decide whether that’s worth it.
If Villa can cut costs elsewhere without letting Digne go, they may choose to let his contract run down and allow him to leave for free next summer.
In midfield, Villa are well-stocked, making it difficult to see where Barrenechea would fit. After an impressive loan at Valencia, he’ll want regular minutes next season.
Including a buy-back clause or a healthy sell-on percentage would be wise if Barrenechea is sold permanently this summer.
Villa must also replace Axel Disasi and at least one of Marcus Rashford or Marco Asensio in their squad, as the lack of depth early last season hurt their competitiveness across multiple fronts.
There is interest in both Jacob Ramsey and Ollie Watkins. However, with Villa allowed to register 21 non-club-trained players in their 25-man European squad, Ramsey provides Emery with valuable flexibility.
Villa could have sold Ramsey last summer to address PSR concerns, but Emery refused to sanction the move. That said, with two years left on his current deal, his value will decrease unless he signs a new contract.
As for Watkins - as previously discussed - could Villa realistically replace a guaranteed goalscorer without Champions League football to offer?
Selling Watkins would be a significant risk and is not strictly necessary, as the club has other assets that can be sold to both raise funds and reduce wages.
The wage bill has already come down after Philippe Coutinho’s contract was terminated and removed from the books.
Selling Leander Dendoncker would also be a big boost in Villa’s efforts to cut costs.