‘Aston Villa set for £200m fire sale’ after Champions League agony
Aston Villa are facing a summer of unrest and uncertainty after failing to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Unai Emery’s side missed out on a seat at European football’s top table thanks to their controversial defeat to Man United on the final day of the season.
The 2-0 loss at Old Trafford saw the Villans finish level on points with fifth-place Newcastle United, but with a far inferior goal difference.
Despite securing a place in the Europa League, the Birmingham club may have to offload a number of players to balance the books after their Champions League agony.
Jacob Ramsey is already the subject of interest from Arsenal and Tottenham, while striker Ollie Watkins is also on the Gunners’ radar this summer.
Aston Villa’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Villa Park between 2016 and 2018 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes his former side are in for some difficult months ahead.
Four squad regulars could go as well as ‘star’ players
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness claimed the powers that be at Aston Villa may have no option but to cash in on some of their prize assets.
Despite their impressive run to the quarter-finals of the Champions League this season, he believes the squad could be broken up – with Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans among the other potential departures.
| Position | Team | Played | Points | GD |
| 4 | Chelsea | 38 | 69 | +21 |
| 5 | Newcastle United | 38 | 66 | +21 |
| 6 | Aston Villa | 38 | 66 | +7 |
| 7 | Nottingham Forest | 38 | 65 | +12 |
| 8 | Brighton | 38 | 61 | +7 |
Wyness told Football Insider: “We’re going to be seeing three or four decent squad players sold, as well as some star players in the likes of Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers.
“That’s the quality of player that, I’m afraid to say, may have to go. It’s going to be about finding maybe £150-200million and bringing in some more youth. That’s what Villa have got to do.
“Wages will remain at a very high and unsustainable level, and even with the new revenue improvements around the ground and the different plans that are in place, it won’t be enough to make up this sort of difference.
“As far as I can see, it’s going to have to be about pruning the squad at the very high level where the high earners are.
“That’s not great news for Villa, who have got some big issues this summer.”
Ramsey could have choice of clubs as West Ham enter the picture
As well as Tottenham and Arsenal, Ramsey could be given the choice of moving to east London, with West Ham also in the race to sign the 24-year-old.
Earlier this month, Newcastle United were also credited with an interest in the Villa academy graduate, with a swap deal involving Harvey Barnes floated as far back as January.
After a busy winter window that saw Donyell Malen, Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio among the new arrivals – Emery could be set for an equally busy summer with players moving in the other direction.
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