Exclusive: Chelsea rivals in line to secure hefty PSR boost amid revenue rise
Aston Villa, Man United, and Man City are just three of the Premier League’s clubs who could follow in Chelsea’s footsteps and claim a much-needed PSR boost.
That is the view of football finance expert Dun Plumley, who explained to Football Insider exclusively why the Women’s Super League’s rising revenue matters for Premier League teams.
Villa find themselves in a difficult position with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) [The Athletic].
The club enjoyed a stellar season, making it to the Champions League quarter-finals before falling short against eventual champions PSG.
But Villa’s 2-0 loss to United on the final day of the season saw them miss out on back-to-back seasons participating in UEFA’s premier club competition.
Champions League football is worth an estimated £100m [BBC Sport] for making it to the group stage alone, and the club may have to look at alternative solutions to make financial gains.
Aston Villa, Man United, Man City women’s teams value increasing
Chelsea controversially sold their women’s team to themselves for £198.7m [BBC Sport] last year and in doing so, avoided any PSR difficulties with the Premier League.
The Premier League tried to close the loophole that allowed the Blues to profit in the way they did for the second year running, but failed to do so [The Times].
This will now afford other teams the opportunity to do similar deals, and finance expert Plumley told Football Insider exclusively that Deloitte‘s annual review of football finance showed the valuation of the WSL’s teams was only going to increase, thanks to the league’s revenue as a whole rising by 34%.
Villa are one of several Premier League clubs who could look to exploit the loophole, whilst City, United, and Arsenal could also follow suit, given the success of their respective teams.
Plumley said: “I think the Chelsea figure is always going to be a contentious one because that valuation just wasn’t anywhere near professional estimates. So that’s a separate factor in this.
“The valuations we are seeing there, we’re just not there at the moment in the market.
“The Deloitte report is especially relevant because if there is revenue growth in a football club, and with those women’s teams in particular, that is going to have an impact on the overall valuation of that club.
“It’s really tricky to value football clubs as we know because a lot of them are loss-making, as are some of the women’s teams as single entities.
“They don’t turn a profit, so you can’t measure them in traditional ways, but what you can do is factor in the revenue line and then assets over the top and wider evaluation and the intangibles and the fan base and things like that.
“Therefore, on the numbers that we would look at, if you look at increasing revenue and we work on a revenue multiplier basis for valuations, that’s going to mean the valuation is higher.
“Any increase in WSL club revenues, and as that progresses, is likely to mean that you can justify and realistically put a value on the club that is higher than before.”
Emi Martinez rejects Aston Villa exit
In other developments at Villa, sources revealed to Football Insider that Emi Martinez has rejected a move to the Saudi Pro League.
Contact had been made regarding a summer move to the Middle East, but the Argentine keeper is holding out for a move to another European club.
With Villa in a precarious financial situation and the 32-year-old suffering a dip in form last season, selling the shot-stopper is an enticing prospect for the Midlands side.