da pinnacle： According to reports in The Mirror, Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce could have just £1m to spend on transfers this summer because of worries over Financial Fair Play regulations.
da betway： Villa were one of the pre-season favourites to make an immediate return to the Premier League having suffered a devastating relegation from the top flight last term, but a disappointing start to the campaign under former manager Roberto Di Matteo ultimately cost them a chance of going up.
The Italian spent more than £50m on transfer fees last summer but it’s fair to say were not great investments with three of those additions being sent out on loan in the second half of the campaign.
The new FFP rules mean that Villa can afford to lose £83m in three seasons without being penalised, but with their latest deficit being £81.3m they will have to cut back on spending this summer, meaning Bruce will need to sell before he can buy.
Here are three reasons Villa’s reduced transfer budget could cost them promotion again…
The current squad isn’t good enough
By only being able to secure a 13th-placed finish in the Championship this season, this Villa team has shown over the course of the year that they aren’t good enough to be involved in the Premier League promotion race.
Following a disappointing campaign Bruce will be aiming for automatic promotion next term, but he will know that if he can’t make many additions, his current squad would really have to step it up if they are to have any chance of achieving that target.
They will struggle to raise funds
Bruce will know that if he is to boost his £1m transfer budget and give himself a chance of bringing in new players this summer, he will need to sell before he can buy.
The problem is that aside from top goalscorer Jonathan Kodjia – who he will definitely want to keep – and midfielder Jordan Veretout, there doesn’t seem to be much hope of raising significant funds.
The club brought in Ross McCormack for £12m last summer for example but after failing to make an impression at Villa Park and sometimes even failing to turn up to training, they will struggle to get anywhere near that for the Scot if they choose to sell him.
Steve Bruce could go
The Villa boss is said to have been shocked when he was told that he could have just £1m to spend this summer by the club’s owners, and it is an incident that may leave him considering his future at Villa Park.
Another managerial departure for someone that is so experienced at his level would cause yet more upheaval for the Midlands outfit, and it could be a situation that costs them a chance of the promotion back to the Premier League that they are craving.
Do you agree, Villa fans? Let us know below.