‘Everton to step up Jacob Ramsey interest as PSR forces Aston Villa’s hand’
Everton could be set to benefit from Aston Villa’s PSR battle as they plot a pursuit of midfielder Jacob Ramsey.
The Toffees are in need of reinforcements through the middle after Abdoulaye Doucoure left at the end of his contract.
David Moyes has Idrissa Gana Gueye, James Garner and Tim Iroegunam available at the base of his midfield, with Carlos Alcaraz operating further forward.
But he’ll definitely want more depth and quality in that area — especially in light of Everton struggling in pre-season so far, drawing 1-1 with Accrington Stanley and losing to Blackburn Rovers and Bournemouth 1-0 and 3-0, respectively, with their only victory 2-1 behind closed doors against League One Port Vale.
Everton eyeing up Jacob Ramsey bid
“Well, we’ve signed three, so if you take that off, we’re still in the need of maybe five or six players,” Moyes admitted after the 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth in the Premier League Summer Series (Sky Sports, 27 July).
“That’s what we have to try and do.
“It’s one of those times, I’ve never had one of these. In the past I have had to sign a lot of players, but I’ve never had to do so many in one window.
“We’re trying really hard behind the scenes to get things done. We’re going to need it.”
One midfielder Everton do appear to be tracking is Jacob Ramsey.
The likes of Nottingham Forest and West Ham United are also understood to be admirers of the former England youth international.
Ramsey registered four goals and seven assists in 46 appearances across all competitions last season and has played 167 times for Villa to date.
However, the 24-year-old fell down the pecking order in Unai Emery’s side last season, and it’s thought Everton are priming a £30million bid.
But the Toffees could push for reduced terms following the latest update on Villa’s PSR and Uefa battles.
Everton could use Villa’s PSR woes in Ramsey chase
Villa survived PSR sanctions at the end of June by selling their women’s team to chairman Nassef Sawiris’ holding company, V Sports.
However, they still face a battle to stay compliant this summer, while Uefa’s gaze remains fixed on them with the women’s team sale not counting in their ruleset.
According to football finance expert Dan Plumley, Ramsey could be lined up as an ‘obvious choice’ to be sold this summer, thanks to his academy graduate status ensuring Villa pure profit in the event of a transfer.
“We know where they are with UEFA, don’t we?” said exclusively to Football Insider.
“We’ve seen that UEFA have fined them, we know they’re under the cosh, and we know they’re in Europe.
“They’re going to have to comply with UEFA, as UEFA are threatening further suspended punishments.
“That’s UEFA bearing their teeth there with these new regulations; these fines are going to happen now, and Villa might get fined again if they miss this next compliance period.
“The club know where they’re at, and we’ve seen UEFA dish out a punishment already against these new sets of regs.
“If you are then going to have to sell, you are looking at the obvious choices, and Jacob Ramsey will be an example of one that would boost the bottom line, because it would be pure profit.”