Aston Villa have been walking a financial tightrope for several years but another season of Champions League football “helps enormously” this summer.
The club initially qualified for the competition thanks to their Premier League finish, once more outperforming rivals with bigger budgets and greater freedom to spend.
Villa then won the Europa League, ending a 30-year wait for a major trophy, but despite their heroics a squad refresh is essential to maintain their hopes of another deep run in Europe without sacrificing their performance in the league.
So which players do Villa need to offload? And who are some realistic transfer targets? The i Paper also asks a financial expert about whether the club need to sell their most prized asset.
Six players to sell
Winger Leon Bailey is worth getting off the wage bill, and a more difficult departure would be selling Tyrone Mings, the 33-year-old who has been an incredible servant for the club but has fallen down the centre-back pecking order.
Both full-back positions are also areas where Villa could shake it up. Matty Cash needs stronger competition, meaning Andres Garcia is likely to leave after an injury-hit season, while one of Lucas Digne or Ian Maatsen could go.
Digne, 32, played more minutes at left-back than Maatsen this season, but it is the latter who Villa could sell for a larger fee.
Crystal Palace have the option to buy Evann Guessand after signing the forward on loan in January, while 22-year-old defensive midfielder Lamare Bogarde may be worth selling for the right price.
The biggest predicament for Villa though is if they need to a big-money sale in order to buy.
The difficult seventh departure: Rogers or Martinez?
Morgan Rogers would command twice the fee of any other Villa player, at least, with reports the club would consider £80m amid interest from Chelsea, Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain.
A strong World Cup showing for England this summer could raise that asking price, while the fact Jack Grealish left for £100m five years ago is another reason Villa could play hardball.
The only value in selling Rogers is the ability to strengthen in several positions with the money his departure would raise – the obvious caveat being Villa losing one of the English football’s brightest talents.
“They’re not under the usual pressure to sell but if they receive an exceptional bid, they should sell,” football finance expert Professor Rob Wilson tells The i Paper.
“That’s good practice – a bit like Newcastle last year with Alexander Isak. While fans want to retain, you can do a great deal with a pay cheque for an asset that will begin declining in value.
“The Champions League helps enormously so expect them to balance their transfers in and out.”
Selling other valuable assets in Amadou Onana, Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans would have to lead to a like-for-like signing – as was the case when Onana came in weeks after Douglas Luiz was sold in 2024 – and there is little point in Villa going around in circles unless the new arrival is a significant coup.
Meanwhile, the Saudi market has been kind to Villa in recent years – they made an initial £64m by selling Jhon Duran last year – and this could be where Villa raise cash.
Twelve months ago Emiliano Martinez said a tearful farewell to Villa Park, only to stay after a move to Manchester United fell through.
Martinez grafted his way back into the hearts of Villa fans, but could winning the Europa League be the perfect farewell?
The World Cup winner would be an attractive option for Saudi Pro League teams.
Incomings: Trafford, Barnes and who else?
Replacing Martinez with James Trafford would have one eye on the future.
The i Paper reported earlier this month that Villa are hopeful of beating Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea to the signature of the England international, and they are the only club from that list playing European football next season.
Elsewhere, Newcastle winger Harvey Barnes is a reported target in an area where Villa need to strengthen, with loan spells for Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott ending.
A name on the lips of Villa fans in Istanbul was Jarrod Bowen, and with West Ham now relegated the 29-year-old winger could look to remain in the Premier League – likewise Crysencio Summerville.
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Midfielder Mateus Fernandes and defender Konstantinos Mavropanos could also be offloaded by West Ham. Fernandes is a target for Manchester United, The i Paper reports, but that move is worth Villa monitoring given Kamara’s injury issues.
Mavropanos meanwhile was voted West Ham supporters’ player of the year, and the centre-back would be a ready-made replacement for Mings capable of challenging for a place in Villa’s starting XI.
