From The Athletic
We know what we want, we know who we want and our owners are prepared to put up the money, but because of PSR/SCR rules, we're in limbo until we shift deadwood.
ASTON VILLA’S' SUMMER OF UNCERTAINTY IS NOT IDEAL PREPARATION FOR A NEW PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON
Aston Villa’s transfer team are used to thinking on their feet.
A product of a volatile market, influenced by the seemingly perennial concern of having to comply with profit and sustainability rules (PSR), staff members often stress the need to be proactive in seeking targets for a time when Villa, invariably, become reactive to replace players who have just left.
Best-laid plans forged in May can change over the summer months. Initially, Villa wanted a right-footed centre-back, right-back, winger and forward. Money needs to be raised from outgoings to plug those gaps, especially if they are breaching UEFA’s squad cost rules (SCR), which are even stricter than the Premier League’s PSR.
The only genuine pursuit has been for Toulouse centre-back Jaydee Canvot, with the first formal approach rejected.
Players and staff accept that Unai Emery’s squad needs a refresh, but even if selling the women’s team has placated the threat of PSR, Villa need to cut their wage bill below 70 per cent of overall revenue to comply with UEFA’s rules. There has been a degree of surprise among staff at the lack of activity, but no marquee departures are imminent.
Ideally, Villa would have strengthened at right-back over the previous three windows, providing competition for Matty Cash and sharing his workload. High salaries at left-back, especially with Ian Maatsen and Lucas Digne competing for the spot last year, meant they simply did not have the monetary comfort.
Villa have only made one senior signing — backup goalkeeper Marco Bizot. Rumours arise daily about potential incomings, most of which are swiftly knocked down and dismissed.
For example, if Villa had successfully offloaded Leon Bailey, they would have likely signed another winger by now. They liked Real Betis’ Jesus Rodriguez but were never truly in the race. In the end, Rodriguez joined Como.
Selling other players who have been isolated from Villa’s travelling party to the United States, such as Alex Moreno and Leander Dendoncker, would have saved Villa more than £100,000 ($133,000) per week in salary costs.
If any of these dominoes had fallen, Villa would have reacted sooner to bring in replacements. It is what makes pre-empting their transfer strategy at the window’s outset so complex — they have a nimble approach, shifting between targets and always weighing up the financial pros and cons. Employees even acknowledge this school of thought, with Villa changing strategy, contingent on what targets are viable and whether Emery may decide that he already has a player who can cover the desired position and, therefore, need to address another area instead.
Acting on their feet might seem necessary in the era of PSR, but it is not ideal preparation for the new season. The approach represents the antithesis of the stability Emery demands, even if it has been successful for Villa in previous windows.
Pre-season has been set against the backdrop of departures, though no high-profile player has exited. It has become a ‘whodunit’ storyline — who will be the player(s) to leave?
Arguably, the bedrocks of Emery’s era are Emiliano Martinez and Ollie Watkins. Speculation about both perpetually swirls. Villa are adamant Watkins will not be sold, despite Manchester United sounding out the striker.
United also cheekily asked to take Martinez on a season-long loan, which was met, unsurprisingly, by instantaneous push back.
Martinez thought at the end of last season (hence the tears) that his time at Villa was up. His representatives had been in contact with United since the start of the year, and Martinez reckoned that they or another famously large team in Europe would come calling and strike a deal. However, no club has made a proposal that comes close to Villa’s asking price.
Martinez and Watkins are large presences on and off the field. Doubt over their futures cannot be conducive to long-term planning, though Villa are trying to negate this by insisting Watkins will stay and lead the line this term. The forward expressed frustration over a lack of playing time in the second half of last season, and Villa were not totally opposed to his exit in January, but the 29-year-old is extremely well-liked among staff, who are warm in their praise for his professionalism, attitude and respect he shows around the training ground.
Villa have outlined their desire to renew Morgan Rogers’ contract, despite the 23-year-old only signing a new five-year contract in November, bringing him in line with his status as a key player for Emery. All parties are aware that Rogers has multiple Premier League admirers.
Boubacar Kamara’s contract extension did provide some certainty as he penned a deal until 2030 to dismiss fears he would leave this window. A new contract may be in the offing for Jacob Ramsey but clubs, including Nottingham Forest, are monitoring his situation, sensing that he is available for the right price.
For now, though, we wait. Supporters wait, players wait, Emery waits. Villa’s squad requires trimming, cutting peripheral figures and deciding the futures of some senior players.
In theory, being stifled in the transfer market while waiting for probable exits is not conducive to Emery’s abiding thirst for progress. Some players featuring in pre-season have little to no chance of making a competitive appearance and there are others who have played, but are unsure whether they will be here next month.
Villa are a victim of circumstance as they attempt to navigate a delicate PSR and SCR situation. The Emery era has tended to be adept in managing turbulence — how his side start the season will be another test of such resolve.
