Revealed: Why Aston Villa have sold yet another home-grown sensation – and who could be next
The sale of Finn Azaz to Middlesbrough has helped Aston Villa from a Financial Fair Play standpoint as they plot more transfer business in 2024, sources have told Football Insider.
Azaz, 23, joins the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Cameron Archer and Jaden Philogene in leaving Villa Park having come through the ranks at the club.
The sales of such players are considered pure profit under FFP regulations and help Villa invest in first-team stars of their own.
Football Insider revealed via sources on 22 December that club chiefs are laying the groundwork for a “superstar striker signing” in the summer of 2024.
Competition for places has exploded since the arrival of Unai Emery at the Midlands giants – with the Spaniard leading them to second in the Premier League table after 20 games.
That meteoric rise has seen some youngsters fall behind and even out of favour with Emery.
In the most recent summer window, Archer was sold to Sheffield United for a reported £18million – while Ramsey joined Burnley for £12million.
Meanwhile, Philogene headed to Hull City for a reported £5million.
Aston Villa have the option to repurchase all three players should they kick on at their new clubs in the coming years.
Azaz is set to head to Middlesbrough for a fee of around £2million after putting himself in the shop window with a loan spell at Plymouth Argyle.
One player who could raise vital funds for Villa in the future is midfielder Lamare Bogarde.
Football Insider revealed on Friday (5 January) that Championship trio Southampton, Watford and Cardiff City are interested in taking Bogarde on loan for the rest of the season.
He could join Villa youngsters like Kaine Kesler-Hayden (Plymouth) and Sebastian Revan (Rotherham) in making a loan move to the second tier.
In other news, Aston Villa bank £55million injection ahead of January signing blitz.