(Credit: Imago)

Ben Palmer

Fri 25 April 2025 19:30, UK

Aston Villa appear likely to sell Ollie Watkins due to their PSR concerns and the striker’s deteriorating relationship with the club.

Last summer, the Villains were one of several clubs involved in a scramble to sell players to remain compliant with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR).

For Villa, this meant selling Douglas Luiz, Omari Kellyman, and Tim Iroegbunam whilst returning the favour to other clubs by signing Ian Maatsen, Lewis Dobbin, Samuel Iling-Junior, and Enzo Barrenechea.

With similar issues threatening to rear their head again this summer, Villa may need to part ways with one of their big-name players, or face the wrath of the Premier League.

Aston Villa on a ‘knife-edge’ to remain PSR compliant

As reported by The Athletic, hefty losses from the past two seasons are posing a problem for Villa.

The Athletic estimated the Midlands side would only now be able to lose £15million before tax to remain compliant with PSR.

That figure would be a huge drop from last season’s £85.9million loss. Whilst Champions League revenue will help, this issue explains the reasoning behind sanctioning the sales of Moussa Diaby to Al-Ittihad and Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.

Depending on how much the wage bill has increased this season, Villa may have done enough to avoid a sanction, but The Athletic’s calculations mean their compliance with PSR is on a “knife-edge”.

As such, a further player sale before the end of June would be unsurprising.

Ollie Watkins out-of-favour at Aston Villa

If there was any single name that jumps out as a favourite to leave Villa Park this summer, and in doing so alleviate some of the PSR pressures breathing down their neck, it is Watkins.

The former Brentford striker was dropped for both legs of the 5-4 aggregate loss to PSG in the Champions League, and also began the 2-1 loss to Man City on the bench on Tuesday (22 April).

Alan Pardew suggested Watkins would be “really hurt” to have missed out, whilst Alan Hutton told Football Insider exclusively he “wouldn’t be surprised” if Arsenal take another look at Watkins, after having a bid rejected in January.

With Marcus Rashford the favoured starting striker under Unai Emery in recent weeks, Villa could cash in on the 29-year-old and alleviate their financial issues.

How does selling Ollie Watkins and signing Marcus Rashford benefit Aston Villa?

If Villa do sell Watkins this summer, it would likely be for a similar or slightly lowered value to the £45million Arsenal offered in January [Telegraph].

Rashford, meanwhile, has a buy option in his loan deal from Man United for £40million [BBC Sport].

So how does selling Watkins help Villa if the fees are so similar?

The tricky world of football accounting allows a club to amortise the fees to their benefit.

If Villa sign Rashford for £40m and give him a five-year contract, that fee can be spread over the duration of his contract on the club’s books and will be listed as £8m per year.

If Watkins leaves this summer, the club will be able to register the entire fee during the season it happened, as such giving them a cash boost on the accounts, even if there is very little by way of actual profit.

Villa are poised to break down the recognised establishment of the current big six, but doing so will require them to push the boundaries, both on and off the pitch.

Watkins’ sale is a risk and would undoubtedly be unpopular with large swathes of the clubs’ fanbase, but if it allows them to sign Rashford permanently and have a little more cash to play with this summer, it could be the catalyst for bigger things in the near future.

However, the Man United loanee’s interest in staying, and the overall financial picture may depend on Champions League qualification above all, with Villa in the midst of a tight race with the likes of Chelsea and Newcastle for next season’s competition.