Aston Villa’s current PSR issues they must once again use summer window to solve

National World - LocalTV

It’s shaping up to be a pivotal summer for Aston Villa—not just in terms of recruitment, but also in navigating the complexities of financial sustainability.  After securing Europa League qualification, Unai Emery’s side now faces a delicate balancing act between strengthening the squad and staying compliant with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.

Transcript

00:00Now it's shaping up to be a pivotal summer for Aston Villa,

00:06not just in terms of recruitment,

00:08but also in navigating the complexities of financial stability.

00:12After securing Europa League qualification,

00:15UNAM Ray's side now faces a delicate balancing act

00:18between strengthening the squad and staying compliant

00:21with the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules.

00:25Ambition remains high at Villa Park,

00:27but the club must operate within strict financial parameters.

00:31Any major additions will likely need to be offset by outgoings,

00:35particularly among fringe players or academy graduates

00:38who offer pure profit on the books.

00:41With a solid core already in place,

00:44Villarovs focused on smart signings.

00:46Players who add depth and versatility

00:48without destabilising the group Emery has carefully built.

00:52The recruitment strategy will need to be both strategic

00:55and financially astute.

00:57We caught up with Charlie Haffenden of Birmingham World

01:00to get his take on Villa's summer approach,

01:03which names are on the club's radar,

01:06and how Emery is looking to shape a squad capable

01:08of competing across multiple fronts.

01:13Charlie on Aston Villa,

01:14and obviously the main headline surrounding them is the PSR,

01:18and unfortunately they're a club that despite all this success they've had on the pitch

01:23and Emery's sort of revival,

01:25they do fall into that PSR sort of situation.

01:28They obviously had to sell last summer as well.

01:31In terms of players, they should sell.

01:34There's obviously some candidates,

01:35Martinez is one of them,

01:36you know,

01:37Rodgers is a huge asset that they've got,

01:40you know,

01:40Jacob Ramsey as well.

01:42I mean,

01:42it's a difficult situation they're in,

01:44but if they did have to sell anyone,

01:46you know,

01:47who would they sell?

01:47And also just break down the PSR situation,

01:50because it is quite a bit of a handful,

01:53and then maybe you look at the likes of Chelsea,

01:55Manchester City,

01:55and you think,

01:56why is it not also affecting them?

01:58But it is Aston Villa.

02:00Yeah,

02:00it's crazy really that Villa are the team in the Premier League affected most by this,

02:04considering they're about to head into their third consecutive season in European football,

02:08which brings in such an incredible income for the football club.

02:11In terms of the fan base,

02:13the attendances have been higher,

02:15the merchandise sales have been better since they switched to Adidas,

02:17and the sponsorships as well have been increasing.

02:20So how on earth are they still struggling?

02:21And you can also include in that that they sold Diaby for £50 million,

02:25they sold John Duran for £70 million,

02:27Douglas Luiz for £45 million.

02:30How are they still in this situation?

02:31Well,

02:32their wage bill is incredibly high compared to a lot of teams in and around them,

02:36not in terms of total wage bill,

02:38but in terms of revenue to wages,

02:40and that's really been a struggle for them.

02:42Of course,

02:43they've been bringing in players to replace those that have gone.

02:45Amidou Inanna costing £50 million was a big outlay,

02:49and Jadon Filagin coming back and they're being sold again.

02:52There have been players brought in,

02:54Moutsen as well as another one,

02:55£37.5 million.

02:57So it's not quite been just sales and then no incomings.

03:00It has been quite expensive as well.

03:02Premier League clubs are only allowed to lose £105 million over a three-year period.

03:08I say only,

03:08that sounds a bit crazy in itself,

03:09doesn't it?

03:10But that is the rule.

03:11And Villa are about £50 million short at the moment,

03:14with that deadline approaching quickly on June 30th,

03:17they need to sort out their business.

03:19Emi Martinez was one name you mentioned.

03:21I think he's probably the favourite to leave.

03:23He could probably fetch between £40 and £50 million for him,

03:27given he's still got quite a few years left in his contract.

03:29He's a World Cup winner,

03:31two-time Yashin Award winner as well.

03:35I think maybe that could be a decent sale for them.

03:37But of course,

03:37you've then got to replace him.

03:39That probably has to be done after the deadline.

03:40And Leon Bailey is potentially another one.

03:43He's not quite as valuable as he once was,

03:45but maybe £25 million for him.

03:47And then,

03:48as you mentioned,

03:48the likes of Morgan Rodgers and Jacob Ramsey.

03:51Villa really don't want to sell either of those players.

03:54If they are going to sell one,

03:55it will be Ramsey,

03:56I feel.

03:57But how much are you realistically going to get for him?

03:59It's a really complex one.

04:01And Villa fans,

04:02rightfully frustrated,

04:03given how many years they've been in Europe now,

04:05getting a potential points deduction or a hefty fine.

04:08So,

04:09yeah,

04:09it's really tricky.

04:10And then there's the UEFA squad cost rules as well,

04:12where you can spend 70% of your revenue on player costs,

04:16which is effectively salaries and bonuses.

04:19Villa are in the 80s of the percents at the moment.

04:21So,

04:21you'd have to get rid of Martinez.

04:23You'd have to get rid of a Bailey,

04:24maybe.

04:25Luca Dean's a high earner,

04:26but they want to keep him ideally.

04:28Of course,

04:28talks of Rashford coming back,

04:30completely out the window,

04:31because he's on £300,000 a week.

04:33It's a really crazy situation.

04:35So,

04:36Villa,

04:36they want the squad depth.

04:38Emery wants to have two good players in every single position,

04:40but they simply can't afford it.

04:42Unless they bring in youngsters,

04:43do you feel?

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