Click here for more of our videos
on ShotsTV.com or watch on Freeview 262
Tottenham Hotspur could benefit from Aston Villa’s PSR struggles with a swoop for a talented midfielder.
Sign up to our BirminghamWorld Today newsletter
Sign up
Thank you for signing up!
Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to BirminghamWorld, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.
Submitting...
Aston Villa are reportedly considering sacrificing an important player this summer to conform to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR), with Tottenham Hotspur waiting to pounce.
It’s been known for several weeks now that the Villans are in a precarious position when it comes to PSR and one big sale - or several smaller exits - may be required to avoid a points deduction. Emiliano Martinez and Leon Bailey have been linked with moves to the Saudi Pro League to help Villa balance the books but a different first-team player has now been tipped to depart instead.
The Telegraph reports qualification for the Champions League could transform Villa’s summer for the better but a failure to finish in the Premier League top five could be catastrophic. The difference in income between the elite continental competition and the Europa League is vast, so it would be a huge aid for Villa if they can land a spot in the big time once more.
The report details that Jacob Ramsey could be a player to be sacrificed as he’s an academy product and his sale would represent pure profit for Villa. It’s mentioned that Spurs, who have a long-standing interest, could be a potential destination for the 23-year-old.
In and out of Unai Emery’s starting lineup throughout 2024/25, Ramsey has finally said farewell to his injury woes and has been gathering some momentum. The versatile midfielder, who can play on the left flank or through the centre as a number 10, has notched four goals and seven assists in 45 appearances throughout all competitions this campaign.
It’s not just been the direct goal contributions that have made an impact as Ramsey has been a real threat down the left wing, gaining confidence with every appearance. The Birmingham-born midfielder has been playing with a refreshing swagger and has formed a nice partnership with Morgan Rogers.
Who could Aston Villa sell instead of Jacob Ramsey?
Unai Emery is very reluctant to lose Ramsey as he believes he is yet to reach his high potential and can be a pivotal player for Villa moving forwards. As such, the Villans hierarchy would either seek a huge transfer fee - previously speculated at around £50 million - or try to sell alternative players, perhaps Martinez and Bailey.
There’s not an unlimited window for Villa to get their business done, however, with the PSR deadline coming up on June 30. If Villa have lost more than £105 million over the three-year period to that point, punishments will be drawn up. It’s pivotal the situation is approached appropriately.
It may not seem fair that the club are in this situation in the first place as several high-value sales have been made in the past 12 months and Villa have enjoyed deep runs in the Champions League and FA Cup. It’s the reality, however, with the high wage bill certainly not helping matters.
That’s one reason why Marcus Rashford might not sign permanently from Manchester United. Villa hold the option to sign the England international for £40 million but his £350,000-a-week demands would need to be slashed to make the deal a reality.