Villa battle with PSR is causing 'concern' for expert

VILLA are the Premier League club that a football finance expert is 'most concerned' about breaching Profitability & Sustainability Rules.

- BRIAN DICK

The Price of Football podcast host Kieran Maguire says Villa will have to 'box clever' in the summer transfer window, which opened again on Monday.

Maguire expects Villa to have to sell players by the end of the financial year, June 30, due to their spending as they strove to reach the Champions League. He said: "I think of the 20 Premier League clubs, Villa are the ones we're most concerned about.

"Last season, when they did qualify for the Champions League, for every £100 of revenue that Aston Villa brought in, they spent £91 on wages. Those players will have had contract step-ups for qualifying for the Champions League.

"And remember, Villa have done very well in that competition. So that will be a plus. And they have sold some players as well, in both the last summer market and the January one.

"But I think there is still a perception that Villa will have to box clever.