Aston Villa are facing a tricky transfer window after just avoiding the PSR axe and being fined by UEFA last week for breaching FFP regulations.
Aston-Villa-Malen Related
Aston Villa ready talks to sign £18m forward and may use Malen in swap deal
Talks are planned ahead of a potential move to Villa Park.
Their sale of the women's team to V Sports "effectively solved" their PSR worries, according to The Athletic, but just days later, UEFA slapped Unai Emery's side with a fine of around £10 million, which could go up by another £13 million if they fail to comply again in the next three years (BBC).
Taking this into account, Villa could still be forced to sell a high-profile player or two, or face the risk of not being allowed to register players for their Europa League campaign, similarly to Chelsea, who were punished in similar fashion last week (BBC).
“We’re trying to predict the future, and that’s never an easy game, but if you look at a worst-case scenario with the ban, I think at the moment there’s a lower level of risk attached to that, shall we say," said football finance expert Dan Plumley to Football Insider recently.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery
“I know that they’ve come out and said they don’t have to sell players, and it’s not something that they’re looking at, but I think it’s likely probably one or two do move on.
“Ultimately, given those numbers, the difference between Champions League football and Europa League will hurt them a little bit financially as well, but they have had a good year in the Champions League. So there’s a lot of moving parts to it.
“I guess in terms of a ban, we’re still not quite there yet, but I think they’ve got a bit of work to do.
“As we’ve said before with Villa, looking at those numbers, there’s a bit of work to do in the next year, and you hope that that’s not a possibility for them. I think it’s likely they’ll have to get a couple of players out of the door this summer.”
Interestingly, Villa haven't stopped being linked with star players this window, and they're rumoured to be closing in on a deal for Brest goalkeeper Marco Bizot.
However, as one shot-stopper comes in, another could be on the way out.
Port Vale make offer for Aston Villa keeper Filip Marschall
That is according to Football League World, who report that Port Vale have made an offer to sign Aston Villa keeper Filip Marschall on loan.
Filip Marschall
The 22-year-old is also attracting interest from Blackpool, but it is Vale who've made the first move for him, although there is no word on Villa's stance just yet after they were sent this proposal by the League One side.
Marschall spent the 2024/2025 campaign on another temporary deal at Crewe Alexandra in League Two, making 47 appearances as a mainstay for the English minnows, and he's been praised as a real hard-worker behind-the-scenes at Villa.
“Filip’s desire to improve in all areas sets him apart from others," said former academy goalkeeping coach, Mark Naylor, after Marschall won Villa's 2020/2021 scholar of the year award.
"He has a driven mindset that allows him to push himself in order to progress. He is constantly looking for that extra percent that will improve his performance both on and off the field."