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Aston Villa chief executive Keith Wyness plays down fears over FFP after revealing club mulled Van Persie swoop

Chief executive Keith Wyness remains confident Villa will avoid any Financial Fair Play sanctions this season - after revealing the club considered a swoop for former Arsenal striker Robin van Persie.

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The Netherlands international, who also won the Premier League title with Manchester United in 2013, yesterday rejoined boyhood club Feyenoord from Fenerbache.

During an interview on Radio WM, Wyness revealed Villa considered moving for the 34-year-old earlier this month before opting against.

Wyness also addressed the club’s ongoing issues with regard to FFP, which has restricted their business in the market over recent transfer windows.

The rules limit how much a club can lose over a three-year period but Wyness does not believe Villa will face any sanction this season.

And while he admitted next year will be “challenging” if they fail to win promotion, he is confident they would still be able to build a squad capable of competing at the top end of the Championship.

“There would be a smaller amount of money for the squad,” he said. “We have enough already that we believe we can still build a strong squad. It is nothing we are overly concerned about.

“We have the strategy in place. I have always said next season will be challenging (if we don’t go up) but we have a strategy. If we get promoted things will take care of themselves.

“Right now we are not going to be in breach of FFP at all.”

The scale of the financial issues inherited by Wyness and owner Tony Xia was laid bare this week by a Financial Times study, which revealed Villa spent a larger proportion of their revenue on wages than any other club in Europe during the 2015/16 season.

That campaign ended in relegation from the Premier League, with Wyness appointed chief executive following Xia’s takeover the following summer.

Boss Steve Bruce, who is limited to loan moves this month, yesterday promised he would never hide the financial reality from supporters.

“With supporters, the one thing you can't give them is any flannel, especially here,” said Bruce.

“You have to be as truthful as you possibly can. That's always been my philosophy.

"We would all love to have been in a position where Aston Villa can sign (Alexis) Sanchez and back in the day that might have been the case.

“It is what it is. I would love to sit here and say I have a big sackful of money to spend but we haven't.

“We have to put our ducks in a row. My job is to try to manage the two - the board and what they want back and manager the club and ensure we compete as we are Aston Villa.”

Villa reserve keeper Jed Steer could meanwhile faces shoulder surgery and could miss the rest of the season. The 25-year-old suffered the injury during the recent FA Cup defeat to Peterborough.