Unai Emery, at least, is fully aware of the issues which threaten to undermine Aston Villa’s ambition in the transfer market.
Back in January, the four-time Europa League winning manager admitted that his Aston Villa outfit – held in a vice-like grip by Financial Fair Play restrictions – would likely have to sell before they can buy.
“We have to accept the rules and accept that, if we want to sign someone, one has to leave” Unai Emery said, via The Athletic. “For financial fair play, we will need to accept the rules and how we are.
“They (the owners) want to invest more and more but (they) accept the rules and accept financial fair play. We are trying to be intelligent in our transfer windows. We are trying to improve our squad with some players and, if we can’t do it now, we can think of the next transfer window in the summer.”
Aston Villa need to sell for Financial Fair Play
Emery did add, meanwhile, that Aston Villa were determined to ‘hold onto our best players’ and that no one would be leaving unless for a ‘very good offer’.
HITC understands that the Champions League-bound Midland giants have no intention of cashing in on Ollie Watkins, Emi Martinez, Douglas Luiz or the homegrown talent Jacob Ramsey. Fortunately, Aston Villa do have other means of improving their financial situation.
Morgan Sanson has already departed, joining Nice, while Leander Dendoncker should earn the club another few million when he departs. The exit of Philippe Coutinho, still Villa’s highest earner on £135,000-a-week per Salary Sport, would do wonders for Emery’s wage bill too, Vasco da Gama seemingly closing in on a deal that would see the Brazil international return to the club where he started his career over a decade ago.
Vasco president Pedrinho said last week that Coutinho was ‘very interested’ in taking in a second spell at the Sao Januario. Further talks are expected to take place in the coming days.
The club’s new football executive Pedro Martins appeared equally optimistic when quizzed on Coutinho too, the emotional connection between him and Vasco giving the Rio-based outfit an advantage over their Brazilian rivals Cruzeiro.
Return to Brazil likely for Philippe Coutinho
“This is not a business that only involves money, but rather a player’s connection with his home and his vision of the project presented by the club”, Pedro Martins tells O Antagonista.
“Philippe Coutinho demonstrates a great desire to re-join Vasco. An aspect that we consider decisive for the progress of negotiations.”
HITC have been told that Aston Villa had initially hoped to sell Coutinho, who joined the club in a £17 million deal from Barcelona two years ago and spent last season on loan in Qatar with Al-Duhail. Villa may be willing to accept another short-term deal, however, as long as Coutinho is willing to take a sizeable pay cut.
There is also the chance that the former Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan playmaker terminates his Villa contract, though that may be wishful thinking with two years left on his current deal.
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