Exclusive: Aston Villa make ‘obvious choice’ on Jacob Ramsey under cosh from UEFA
Aston Villa will make the “obvious choice” on Jacob Ramsey’s future as the club faces the prospect of a barren transfer window.
That is the view of football finance expert Dan Plumley, who explained exclusively to Football Insider that UEFA are “bearing their teeth”, and the Villains will have to be careful this summer.
Aston Villa survived a sanction from the Premier League at the end of June relating to their profit and sustainability rules (PSR), by selling their women’s team to chairman Nassef Sawiris’ holding company, V Sports.
However, due to UEFA‘s differing ruleset, that sale could not be registered as a profit on the club’s accounting books submitted to the European governing body, and Unai Emery’s side were slapped with a £9.5million fine [Sky Sports], and the threat of a further £27m in fines and a potential ban from European competition if the club continue to fail the financial restrictions laid out for them.
As a consequence, the club are seemingly in a position where if they want to recruit upgrades this summer, sales are necessary.
Given he came through the academy and would therefore represent pure profit if sold, Jacob Ramsey has been heavily linked with an Aston Villa exit this summer.
Selling Jacob Ramsey ‘obvious choice’ for Aston Villa
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Plumley, a senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University, explained why Villa may consider selling Ramsey due to the effect it would have on their accounting books.
The finance expert highlighted the club’s issues with PSR and UEFA regulations, and claimed the European governing body was “bearing their teeth” with the new regulations.
Plumley said: “We know where they are with UEFA, don’t we.
“We’ve seen that UEFA have fined them, we know they’re under the cosh, and we know they’re in Europe.
“They’re going to have to comply with UEFA, as UEFA are threatening further suspended punishments.
“That’s UEFA bearing their teeth there with these new regulations; these fines are going to happen now, and Villa might get fined again if they miss this next compliance period.
“The club know where they’re at, and we’ve seen UEFA dish out a punishment already against these new sets of regs.
“If you are then going to have to sell, you are looking at the obvious choices, and Jacob Ramsey will be an example of one that would boost the bottom line, because it would be pure profit.”
