Revealed: Aston Villa faced major Premier League points deduction without swift summer sales
Villa feared being hit with a points deduction of between 10 and 12 points as they raced to comply with Premier League profit and sustainability rules this summer, it can be revealed.
Club bosses have explained how they worked to defuse a “ticking bomb” by raising tens of millions from player sales before the end of June to avoid being punished with a points deduction this season.
In an extensive interview, Villa transfer chiefs Monchi and Damian Vidagany explain just how close the club came to breaching the 2023-24 limits with the crucial £42.3million sale of Douglas Luiz to Juventus signed off just hours before the deadline.
“From the end of the season to the end of June, this one month is normally the holiday period for everyone in football,” said Vidagany. “For us, it was very challenging. There was a bomb with a countdown and we were there to cut the cable.”
Villa also sold teenager Omari Kellyman to Chelsea for £19m, while Tim Iroegbunam went to Everton for £9m to ensure they remained within the permitted PSR losses of £105m over a three-season cycle.
Both Everton and Nottingham Forest were hit with points deductions last season and Villa would also have faced a hefty penalty had they failed to act.
Villa were still able to spend big after making the required sales, breaking their transfer record by signing Amadou Onana from Everton for £50m. But the club also sold Moussa Diaby for £51m to help remain within Uefa’s cost control rules – which run separately to PSR – and frustration at the Premier League’s regulations and penalties is clear.
“The threat of a points deduction is like a weapon on the head of the clubs with ambition,” said Vidagany.
"If there was no PSR, the window would have been absolutely different. An absolutely different market for us in terms of the timings.
"I don’t think there would be a big difference in the players we would bring in or the profile of players we bring in. Perhaps we’d bring in one more because we could do it, but there wouldn’t be a big difference.
"However, we could sell better, without the pressure of the PSR. We could have sold Luiz for more and with no rush."
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