Keith Wyness: Aston Villa will transform season after ‘huge win’ behind the scenes
Aston Villa have been tipped to turn their season around after a “huge win” in the latter stages of the transfer market.
Earlier this summer, the Midlands giants were struggling to stay within Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), but managed to avoid punishment at the end of June.
Many thought that Villa would have to sell the likes of Morgan Rogers in order to stay within PSR, but instead they engineered the sale of their women’s side to raise sufficient funds.
Rogers was linked with the likes of Tottenham and Arsenal, but remains part of Unai Emery’s squad after the transfer deadline passed.
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 it was very important that his old side were able to keep hold of the England international.
Aston Villa have the quality to turn it around
This article contains exclusive comment from Keith Wyness, former Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen CEO.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted that it was a “huge win” for Aston Villa that they were able to keep Rogers, and that the fans will be delighted.
It has been a difficult start to the season for Emery’s side, and their 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday (31 August) left them sitting 19th in the league.
Wyness added that Villa have the quality to be able to turn their bad form around, especially with Rogers still in the ranks.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “It’s a huge win for them to keep Rogers, and I think the fans in particular will be very happy about that.
“We know the PSR issue at Villa is right close to the wire, and he would have been one of the assets that may well have had to be sold, because there’s a lot of interest in him, I know that for a fact.
“I think that Villa have done well in that sense, holding onto Morgan. He’s a star of the future. I think he’s settled.
“So look, it’s good, Villa have got away with it, and in the end they’ve still got some decent quality players. It was a bad result at the weekend, but they’ve got time to turn it around. They’re at the bottom end of the table, not a great start, but I think they’ve got the ability to do it.
“Of course, having European matches now on Thursday, and Premier League on a Sunday is going to be an issue, but nevertheless, let’s see how they get on.
“Overall, that was not bad for Villa keeping hold of Morgan Rogers. I think that was a very important move for them.”
Unai Emery makes goalkeeper decision
Meanwhile, Emery is expected to reintegrate goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez into the Aston Villa side, sources have told Football Insider.
Martinez had looked set to leave Villa, but his prospective move to Manchester United didn’t materialise on deadline day.
United opted to sign Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp instead, leaving the Argentina international with no choice but to remain with the Midlands giants.
Despite his desire to leave, sources say that Emery is happy to reintroduce Martinez into the fold, following the transfer deadline passing.
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