“We are not closed off to selling someone if a very good offer comes in, We have to work with respect to the rules”- Unai Emery admits Villa may be forced to sell key players as club looks to avoid breaching FFP rules

Unai Emery admits Aston Villa may be forced to flog key stars to balance the books – as Premier League clubs are on high alert for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations

Unai Emery admits Aston Villa may sell a key player this summer as they try to stay in line with spending rules.

Financial Fair Play regulations are high on the agenda for Premier League clubs, with Nottingham Forest to learn on Monday if they will be charged with breaching them. Everton have received a 10-point penalty for overstepping the mark.

Villa are likely to be cautious in this transfer window but will push on again in the summer — though that could mean selling one of their midfield linchpins Douglas Luiz or Boubacar Kamara to fund their ambitions.

‘We are trying to keep to Financial Fair Play while holding on to the best players in our squad,’ said Emery, whose team will move level on points with Premier League leaders Liverpool if they win at Everton on Sunday.

‘But of course we are not closed off to selling someone if a very good offer comes in and it gives us the possibility to improve our FFP position.

‘We have to work with respect to the rules. However, we must be sure we do not lose our potential as a team — even if we have to sell some players. 

‘It can be dangerous when you sell players just to have money. It can be difficult to replace them while remaining successful.’

As Villa signed Kamara on a free transfer in summer 2022, any fee he generates would represent pure profit. He and Luiz are valued at about £100million apiece.