By John Townley
Complying with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) was no cause for celebration inside Aston Villa last night. The club had been assessing its options for some time, fully aware that they needed to generate significant revenue during the accounting period which ended yesterday – despite playing Champions League football last season. Villa earned around £100 million from their lucrative Champions League campaign, which ended in the quarter-finals at the hands of eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain. To further boost revenue, Moussa Diaby and Jhon Durán were sold for a combined total of approximately £115 million. On Monday, it was revealed that Villa expects to comply with the Premier League’s PSR by selling a 10 percent stake in their women’s team to a U.S.-based investor, with the remaining 90 percent to be acquired by V Sports. The Telegraph reports that the 10 percent stake is valued at around £5.5 million, bringing the total deal to approximately £55 million. ‘The Warehouse’ – a matchday and music venue located in the North Stand car park – is also earmarked for a possible sale, potentially fetching around £50 million. Complying with the PSR is essential, as the threat of a points deduction was a real possibility. However, it’s not just the Premier League’s financial rules that constrain Villa’s spending; the club must also adhere to UEFA’s Squad Cost Rules (SCR). Unlike the Premier League, UEFA does not permit clubs to count income from asset sales – such as the women’s team – to related parties. Villa must reduce their wage bill to comply with UEFA’s 70 percent cap on the wage-to-revenue ratio, which is viewed as a big challenge. The club has been in discussions with UEFA regarding a spending plan that will see the squad cost ratio decrease this summer and next – by a total of around 20 percent. This is why there is a very real chance that Emi MartÃnez could leave the club this summer. The goalkeeper is believed to be open to a new challenge and would command a sizeable transfer fee, while also being one of Villa’s top earners. Lucas Digne, who turns 32 this month, has one year remaining on his contract and is also a high earner. Ollie Watkins has attracted interest from several clubs, including Manchester United, who may step up their pursuit of the forward if Rasmus Højlund departs Old Trafford. Both Arsenal and Chelsea are said to be interested in Morgan Rogers. However, Villa are reluctant to sell the 22-year-old, whose value could rise further next season – especially as he has five years remaining on his contract. Put simply, compliance with PSR does not mean Villa will now freely spend or avoid player sales this summer. They must reduce the wage bill and replace outgoing players with lower-cost alternatives, in regards to wages. Since the appointments of Unai Emery, Damian Vidagany, and later Monchi, Villa’s leadership has shown its ability to operate effectively under challenging circumstances. Selling the likes of Douglas Luiz, Moussa Diaby, and Jhon Durán for a combined £155 million over the past year while remaining competitive on all fronts and reaching the Champions League quarter-finals was no mean feat.