Aston Villa could be forced into Douglas Luiz climbdown as unavoidable McKennie question arises

Aston Villa chiefs are busy at the negotiation table, organising player exits that will ultimately see the club fall the right side of this summer's balance sheet, with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) giving them plenty to think about.

Those regulations are likely to see the potential sale of a major asset and threaten the hard work done by Unai Emery on the field of play. Villa must find a way to keep within the lines, but also prepare as best they can for a competitive top-four race alongside new Champions League duties.

The alternative would be to rapidly work on the exit of fringe players, though with the added risk of failing to maximise revenue at the expense of swiftness.

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Here, Birmingham Live brings you latest from Villa Park on this opening week of transfer news and gossip.

Key Douglas Luiz figures emerge

Douglas Luiz remains the centre of Villa's ongoing transfer storm with the midfielder on track to sign for Juventus. Ongoing talks with week have reportedly led to an agreement of personal terms for a four-year contract between the player and his next club.

When first coming to light, it was said stated that Villa would be in line to pocket €20m as a fee plus Weston McKennie and Samuel Iling-Junior included in the deal. But now a new report from Italy has made claims about the actual monetary sums involved.

As for the player's contract, Tuttosport claim that Luiz is to double his wage by moving from Birmingham to Turin, earning in the region of €6-7m per year. Following on it is claimed that Juve sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli has bartered down to €18m rather than the previously stated €20m.

Finally, they believe that the overall value of Luiz in this deal totals in the region of €65m. This is meant to even out from the money Villa will receive along with the two players.

Birmingham Live says: Luiz knows his value at Villa Park, but he's not the first player to bite at a lucrative offer from an esteemed club so whilst it is a shame to see him go with Villa on the up, he can hardly be ridiculed for it.

As for the money involved and the value of the deal, I'd be asking questions. Yes, the club are under pressure to sell but the whole exercise of this deal is to get cash in the bank - allowing Juve to dictate a lesser price as the days go on, even if only €2m cheaper, seems entirely counterproductive.

The Italians also paid €21.9m, plus an initial €4.5m loan fee, for McKennie and €1.9m for Iling-Junior when recruiting both in 2020. This would mean Villa and Juve concur their collective value has risen by €18.7m to €47m which is something to be sceptical about.

Iling-Junior seems a reasonable, exciting addition to the squad with a bright career ahead, but with McKennie I can't help but wonder if his inclusion in the transaction is worth it and the money would be better utilised on a like-for-like player to Luiz instead.

Big Philippe Coutinho decision made

Philippe Coutinho will reportedly leave Aston Villa this summer with both sides working to mutually terminate his contract. The Brazilian would have been due to stay on for another two seasons.

Injury curtailed an initial honeymoon period under Steven Gerrard's management, and then once deemed surplus to Unai Emery's requirements the 32-year-old secured a loan to Qatar-based Al Duhail for the 2023/24 campaign.

There are benefits for both parties here, say The Athletic. Coutinho will be made free to re-sign for boyhood club Vasco de Gama - the only feasible way they could complete the deal - whilst Villa would allegedly free up around £7m from the club's annual wage budget amid their ongoing PSR battles.

Birmingham Live says: As was the message with Villa's other Brazilian departure, they need to maximise the benefit of their exit otherwise what is the point?

I see two major advantages of Coutinho's hasty farewell in this instance. One, it gets rid of the problem with minimal fuss, helping to clear out a position within the squad that already has too many unreliable players. Two, as one of Villa's biggest earners this will go far in adjusting PSR and the demands of those entering the club hoping for big money that is simply in-affordable.

Of course patience might produce a better outcome, a club willing to pay a fee could arise later in the summer, but by then the PSR benefit would not be felt until next summer.

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