Aston Villa legend Gabby Agbonlahor has commented on the ‘stupid’ PSR rules that are scuppering the club’s plans this summer.
Aston Villa are one of a number of Premier League clubs who are in danger of breaching the league’s Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR) with the 30th June deadline the key date.
This means Unai Emery‘s side have had to make sales in order to raise the necessary funds to ensure they comply with the spending rules.
Villa have already sold 20-year-old Tim Iroegbunam to Everton for £9 million and look set to sell another young talent in 18-year-old Omari Kellyman to Chelsea for £19 million.
The exits are not likely to end their though, with striker Jhon Duran also expected to join Chelsea and Douglas Luiz’ move to Juventus imminent.
All these sales being required despite Champions League qualification has left a lot of fans baffled and Gabby Agbonlahor is no different.
Gabby Agbonlahor reacts to PSR rules amid Aston Villa sales
The fact a number of Premier League clubs are concerned about breaching PSR has seen some odd deals take place.
With Chelsea and Everton also worried about breaking the rules, it appears some clubs are helping each other balance the books financially to circumnavigate the Premier League’s rules.
The key to this is academy players, as their departures represent pure profit in accounting terms as generally no fee was spent to bring them to the club.
That is why we have seen Iroegbunam join Everton with Villa signing the Toffees’ academy talent Lewis Dobbin in return and why Kellyman joining Chelsea is likely to see Villa sign Ian Maatsen in return.
Whilst Villa are paying fees for these players, they are effectively banking all the money they receive as part of the deal as profit ready for the 30th June deadline.
Abgonlahor has been vocal about his feelings on the rules previously and has now taken to ‘X’ to voice his opinion.
Villa’s record Premier League goalscorer posted: ‘The Premier League can p*** off! You make these stupid rules what do you expect!! All Premier League clubs will help each other! Next transfer is [Robin] Olsen for £40 million.’
Premier League looking to close PSR loophole Aston Villa exploiting
Whilst Agbonlahor’s reaction likely reflects that of most Villa fans, there are rightfully concerns around the consequences of PSR.
The rules in their current form mean that it will always make the most sense to sell academy talents, which is worrying academy directors due to the implications on the development of youth players and their first-team progression.
I News claims few Premier League clubs are ‘truly happy with the situation’ as it ‘incentivises the selling of homegrown players’.
The other issue for the Premier League is that this player swapping between clubs is seen as disingenuous in terms of transfer fees.
If two clubs are selling players of a similar value to each other, then it makes sense for both clubs to inflate the fee so that they are banking more profit.
For example, if two academy players are realistically worth around £10 million, both clubs can agree to value the players at double that and have more profit to show in their accounts.
It’s a loophole the Premier League are keen to close, with the possibility of working groups to look into the issue being explored.
For now, though, expect to see plenty more of these deals as clubs look to find ways around breaching PSR.
The post Gabby Agbonlahor gives 'stupid' PSR verdict as Aston Villa learn new Premier League plan appeared first on Aston Villa News.