Aston Villa might have to sell to find £40m
Villa may need to raise more than than £40million to comply with Financial Fair Play next season, it has emerged.
Failure to win promotion to the Premier League means the club may be forced to cash-in on star players this summer, while work is also required to reduce their hefty wage bill.
Work has already begun with Villa set to recoup some cash from the anticipated sales of midfielder Carles Gil and goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini to Deportivo and Atalanta respectively.
But the futures of Jack Grealish, James Chester and several other high-profile players are now seriously in question as the club face up to a third season in the Championship.
Villa must reduce losses over a three-season cycle to £39million by the end of the 2018/19 campaign.
Financial blog Swiss Ramble has estimated the club will need to make up a shortfall of £45million in order to comply, though the figure could rise if revenues reduce further.
Gil, who has not made a single appearance since Villa’s relegation from the Premier League two years ago, is expected to complete a £2million move to Deportivo, the club where he spent the season on loan.
Reports in Italy have, meanwhile, claimed 23-year-old Gollini is poised to join Atalanta, the club where he has spent the last 18 months on loan, for a fee of around £3million.
Despite missing out on promotion, Villa are still set to open talks with defender Alan Hutton this week over a new deal.
Owner Tony Xia yesterday tweeted he was “still hurting” after Saturday’s Championship play-off final defeat.
