Aston Villa 'big issues' with £50m Chelsea transfer scenario explained

Aston Villa will have to tread carefully this summer as they look to abide by the stringent Financial Fair Play rules which many rival clubs have fallen foul of in recent years. The Lions might've qualified for the Champions League, and they're set to earn a substantial amount from competing in that on top of the extra match-days, but the club have spent plenty in supporting their managers in recent years and now must act prudently.

Villa's cause will likely be aided by the players-plus-cash sale of Douglas Luiz, who is edging closer to a move to Juventus. The Old Lady are reported to be sending a couple of players back Villa's way, namely midfielder Weston McKennie and wing-back Samuel Iling-Junior, but it's an indictment of the rules that Villa have been left to explore the sale of a fan favourite and key player to Unai Emery in order to remain within the PSR limits, despite their on-field success.

They have a longstanding interest in bringing Conor Gallagher to Villa Park. While Ross Barkley is also on his way back to the club, Gallagher would broaden Emery's midfield options further - especially with the aforementioned Champions League campaign to run in tandem with their Premier League commitments. Gallagher would likely cost in the region of £50m to sign from Chelsea, and while NSWE have the money to complete deals, there's a need to be careful.

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Because football clubs don't pay other clubs a lump sum for their players when completing a transfer, the spreading of that fee owed to Chelsea, across the length of Gallagher's hypothetical Villa contract, will have to be taken into account in Villa's accounts each year - and it'll read, on the balance sheet, as another outgoing sum. With Villa so close to their PSR limit, they have little wriggle room - hence the need for a big sale.

“It’s likely that Aston Villa will want to invest in the squad this summer,” football finance expert Stefan Borson told Football Insider. “However, that is going to drive up amortisation costs in the year. Look at somebody like Conor Gallagher who they’re talking about.

"If they buy Gallagher for £50 million before or on the 30th of June and have his full amortisation in for next year then that increases their amortisation by £10 million per season. They do not currently have a huge amount of leeway within their PSR limit - so Villa do have some big issues.“

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