LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 14: Unai Emery, Manager of Aston Villa, and Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, embrace prior to the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium on April 14, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 14: Unai Emery, Manager of Aston Villa, and Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, embrace prior to the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium on April 14, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 14: Unai Emery, Manager of Aston Villa, and Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, embrace prior to the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium on April 14, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Aston Villa may be forced to sell one of their key players to balance the books this summer.
After agonisingly missing out on Champions League qualification on the final day of the season, Aston Villa may be forced to part ways with key members of the squad this summer as Unai Emery ensures his Villa Park project steers clear of financial questions down the line.
The riches which come with qualification for Europe’s premier club competition are well known, and fate and fortune were against Villa at Old Trafford on the final day of the season as a red card, a penalty and a refereeing blunder gifted Ruben Amorim’s humiliated Manchester United side a 2-0 victory.
While Europa League football is hardly a disaster and gives the Villains a stronger chance at securing silverware next year, the club hierarchy must deal with the financial reality that will come with missing out on the top five. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez has been linked with a move away this summer, while another Villa Park hero could depart to raise funds over the transfer window.
Aston Villa top scorer may part ways with the club
Ollie Watkins is one of those who may move on this summer, as former Villa scout Mick Brown revealed to Football Insider that the West Midlands club are preparing to accept an offer for the 29-year-old. Watkins recently became the Villains’ top scorer in the Premier League era with 75 goals, but the club may look to cash in amidst interest from the likes of Arsenal.
Brown said: “Aston Villa will look to sell Watkins this summer. They know he’s a player who has attracted a lot of interest and clubs will be willing to pay for. Looking at their financial situation, they feel they’re going to have to sell players to help balance the books and avoid any sort of punishment.
“Arsenal tried to sign Watkins in January and that interest hasn’t gone away. Villa paid around £30 million for him, and he’s been worth far more than that to them with what he’s achieved since he’s come in. Now, they believe they can make a profit on him if clubs come in with offers. It’s not their fault but it’s the situation they’re in, and he is seen as a sellable asset.”
How Aston Villa will cope without Ollie Watkins
This would be a difficult one for Aston Villa as a club and for its fans to move on from. Watkins has been one of Villa’s poster boys during their rapid rise under Emery, a source of immense pride for the club after his Euro 2024 semi-final exploits for England and, above all, a brilliant player who has at times over the last few years carried the Villa attack on his back.
But the narrative over his Villa Park career has changed slightly in recent months. Back in January, Arsenal launched a last-minute bid for Watkins which appeared audacious at the time and was rejected. But as the months have gone on, an eventual exit for the former Brentford man has appeared increasingly likely. The turning point was arguably when Watkins spoke out about publicly about his frustration over being benched in both of Villa’s Champions League quarter-final legs against PSG.
As for how Villa will cope without him, it will not be easy and depends on if they can bring in a top-class striker to replace him. Because they are rare to find, and come at a premium. It remains to be seen whether loan stars Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio will return to Villa Park ahead of next season. If they do not, Emery and the club will have their work cut out to ensure capable reinforcements are brought in to score the goals necessary to keep the Villains in the hunt for all the top prizes next term.
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