Aston Villa missed out on a Champions League spot on the final day of the Premier League season and a number of key stars have been linked with a move away from Villa Park this summer.
Emi Martinez appeared to wave a teartful goodbye to fans during Villa’s final home game of last season, but which club might he join?
Ollie Watkins has been linked with Arsenal but will he remain part of Unai Emery’s squad next season?
And what about highly-rated young stars Morgan Rogers and Jacob Ramsey?
As well as possible departures, Villa have been linked with Nicolas Jackson, Marcus Rashford and Jesus Rodriguez.
So what will happen this summer, who’s on their way out? And can Villa ever escape the constraints of PSR?
Our Aston Villa expert TOM COLLOMOSSE answers all the big questions here.
Villa missed out on a Champions League spot on the final day of the Premier League season
Watkins has been linked with Arsenal but will remain part of Unai Emery ‘s squad next season?
What does Emi Martinez’s future look like?
There is an acceptance on Villa’s side that Martinez would like to move on and the club are willing to sell – although only at the right price.
The issue is finding a buyer. Atletico Madrid would be interested, but only if Jan Oblak were to leave the club for the Saudi Pro League – and as things stand, there is no goalkeeping vacancy among their top clubs.
Martinez has also been sounded out by Pro League clubs but the Argentina star so far been reluctant to abandon top-level European football, with a World Cup on the horizon.
That leaves Manchester United and Chelsea. Both clubs have received encouragement from Martinez’s camp yet they know a significant investment is needed for a player who, despite his huge personality and big-match temperament, showed slight signs of decline last term.
There is an acceptance that Martinez would like to move on and the club are willing to sell
Is there still interest in Ollie Watkins?
Mail Sport understands that if Arsenal cannot agree a deal for either Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres, they may turn their attention to Watkins again.
Arsenal bid for Watkins in January and at another time Villa might have considered it, but they were in the process of selling Duran and Arsenal’s offer was deemed too low. In any case, allowing both forwards to depart during the winter window never felt realistic.
It is a tough one with Watkins. He guarantees goals, assists and is rarely injured. But he turns 30 in December and this may be Villa’s last chance to secure a big fee for him, especially if Villa sign a new No9 who ultimately replaces him as first choice.
Watkins turns 30 in December and this may be Villa’s last chance to secure a big fee for him
Where do Villa stand with Premier League spending rules?
This time last year, Villa were looking at a possible 10-point deduction for breaching profitability and sustainability regulations.
They avoided doing so by selling Douglas Luiz to Juventus. In the current accounting period, which ends on June 30, Villa banked huge Champions League prize money and sold Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr for close to £70m – but after recording losses of nearly £200m over the last two years, there may still be work for Villa to do to ensure they land on the right side of the line this time.
Player sales are just one lever they can pull, however, and Villa have explored the possibility of selling their women’s team to make sure they comply. Chelsea sold their women’s team to the club’s parent company, generating a profit of close to £200m.
What about Morgan Rogers?
Villa’s stance on Rogers is clear – not for sale. And while no player in the world is ever completely off the market, it is difficult to imagine Premier League rivals making an offer that would make Villa think twice.
Rogers is one of the most coveted young attackers in Europe after a superb breakout season and both Chelsea and Arsenal admire him. Yet from Villa’s point of view, why should they ask for any less than the £100m that took Jack Grealish to Manchester City four years ago?
Unlike Grealish, Rogers has now played in the Champions League, he is younger than Grealish was when he joined Pep Guardiola’s team and produced double figures for goals and assists last term. Rogers is keen for another taste of the Champions League, but is happy at Villa and it is tough to see anyone reaching those numbers for now.
Villa’s stance on Rogers is that he is not for sale and the star is currently happy at Aston Villa
Where does Jacob Ramsey fit in?
Mail Sport understands Ramsey is another player Villa would be willing to sell and there is tentative interest from Tottenham and West Ham. The current asking price of about £40m is deemed relatively steep, though.
The midfielder is trusted by Unai Emery and makes important contributions when he plays, but his injury record is patchy and any potential buyer will factor this in. Ramsey’s sale would also generate pure profit as he is a homegrown player, which makes him a vital asset in the PSR era.
There has long been talk of interest from Newcastle and a possible exchange deal with Harvey Barnes, though that seems to have cooled at present.
Mail Sport understands Villa would be willing to sell Ramsey and some clubs are interested
So which fringe players might leave?
It’s all about the fees. Villa would sell Enzo Barrenechea to Valencia after the Argentine performed well on loan in Spain, while there is interest from Hull City and other Championship clubs in homegrown forward Louie Barry.
Kosta Nedeljkovic is another who could depart after spending the last half-season on loan at RB Leipzig.
That’s a lot of talk about departures. Who could come in?
Emery prizes versatility above all other qualities in modern football and would love an attacker who could play across the attacking line. Emery would take back Marcus Rashford but the Manchester United forward has his heart set on joining Barcelona, which means Villa must wait to see how that develops before making a move.
The likeliest option for Rashford is another season on loan, wherever that may be, as a permanent deal means taking on his £325,000-a-week wages. Even if they are effectively subsidised by a settlement with United, those are huge numbers.
Another Villa target, Real Betis winger Jesus Rodriguez, is set to join Italian club Como while Alejandro Garnacho set tongues wagging by posing on Instagram wearing Rashford’s Villa shirt.
As things stand – and it is still only the end of June – Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson is not thought to be a priority. Emery knows the Senegal international from his time at Villarreal.
Emery would take back Rashford but the United forward has his heart set on joining Barcelona
United’s Garnacho posted a picture of himself wearing Marcus Rashford’s Aston Villa shirt
Which areas does Emery want to strengthen?
Villa are targeting a new young No9 and would also like a forward who can play across the attacking line. Next season, though, it would be good to see Donyell Malen have his opportunity, especially if neither Rashford nor Marco Asensio returns.
They will need another left-back if Lucas Digne leaves. The Frenchman is admired by Atletico Madrid and has one year left on his contract.
Mail Sport understands Emery would like to keep him, but Digne has yet to be offered an extension and, as one of Villa’s higher earners, it is thought the club will listen to offers. A goalkeeper is a priority if Martinez departs and Villa like Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier.
