Galatasaray are reportedly interested in signing both Emiliano Martinez and Lucas Digne from Aston Villa this summer.
Speculation continues to rumble on over our transfer dealings in this window, as it remains to be seen what action is required, and ultimately taken, to address our reported concerns relating to PSR.
READ MORE: Exits touted for Villa trio but offloading misfit could prove to be difficult
The general consensus has been that unless Villa are able to find an alternative solution that is permitted under the regulations to balance our books and ensure we’re compliant, the only other source for the required revenue is through player sales.
As of yet, we’ve not had a notable departure, but Footmercato report that Galatasaray are keen on both Martinez and Digne.
Given the value that the influential defensive duo hold coupled with the fact that they are among the highest earners at the club at a time when we have SCR issues too, selling the pair would perhaps make sense from a financial perspective, albeit in an ideal world we’d keep two vitally important individuals at the club.
However, particularly in the case of Digne who has just 12 months remaining on his current contract, now is the time to sell, and Galatasaray have seemingly emerged as a potential solution.
That said, the report goes on to add that while talks are ongoing between the clubs, the Turkish outfit are planning to offer around €26m to €27m for the Villa pair, and that is surely not even remotely close to what Villa will be looking for if we are to green light exits for them.
If those figures are accurate, that’s arguably just a disrespectful offer that should be dismissed immediately as it sounds like Galatasaray are looking to take advantage of our situation, but it remains to be seen if negotiations advance between the two sides for it to become a realistic possibility.
Interest from elsewhere in Martinez and Digne has been reported in recent weeks, but until there are tangible offers on the table, Villa will continue to assess all options to ensure that the damage of having to sell players is as limited as possible in the coming days with the PSR deadline on June 30 rapidly approaching.
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You keep harping on about PSR. When Duran was sold for £53m up front Monchi said that most of the money would be set aside to deal with the PSR. There are no PSR issues. Villa are said to already have broken the SCR threshold, and will get a fine. If it happens severeral times Villa can be banned from European competition and can even face a transfer embargo. Ideally Coutinho and Dendonker leaving, but who will have them on those massive wages. This story about Digne and Martinez came from the fench foot Mercato. The Turkish outlets arent pushing big on this story. Which tells me its not rooted in reality, many turkish reporters cover Gala, but they have not said anything about this. Some turkish outlets are referring to this article from foot Mercato. Where a french outlet picks up a story like this from I dont get. The price is far from realistic, and Villa do not need a former Norwich player from the Championship in a stacked midfield, even if he did very good in the Championship. Its taken out of thin air from a dubous source and put out there by a gullible Journal from foot Mercato I suspect.
If there are ‘no PSR issues’, then why are we exploring the option of selling the women’s team? I keep ‘harping on about it’ because it is still an issue as per multiple football financial experts. So, until the club confirm otherwise, it is still an issue, and up until the women’s team option has been put forward as a genuine possibility, player sales is the obvious solution, be it for this three-year cycle or moving forward. As you’ve noted, SCR is still a concern, and while the club may well accept a fine, it’s still not ideal and needs to be managed. As you’ve also noted, no one has come forward yet to take the likes of Coutinho and Dendoncker off us, so other options will potentially have to be assessed. As I wrote in this article, the fee touted is just ridiculous so I practically dismissed the report, and you’ll have seen in the article posted following this one that I agree with your point that Sara is an unnecessary signing. I report the news and give my opinion.
One person in the Villa hierarchy has reach out to a few of the big Villa youtubers telling them that the media got the PSR narrative all wrong. Why would the club go out publicly stating there are no PSR issues? They dont have to if that isnt the case. Tactically its better to leave other clubs thinking they can focus on nicking players of Villa towards the end of the month, while Villa are lining up their own targets and other clubs are circling around clubs they think are in PSR trouble and who they can exploit. If Villa had PSR problems, surely players like Barrenechea and Nedeljkovic would have been sold already with 3 days of the window left. Monchi rejected Valencias offer for Barrenechea, why would he do that if Villa need to sell?. I gang wait to hear what the socalled experts has to say when it turns out Villa has sold no-one.
Ok so I’ll ask again, if there are no PSR issues as you stated previously, why are we exploring the option of selling the women’s team? Both Monchi and Vidagany were very transparent last summer once everything was sorted and had settled down, I look forward to hearing from them directly again whatever the situation is. You’re making certain aspects of this sound very straight-forward. RB Leipzig have an option to buy on Nedeljkovic and they have yet to exercise it, so while it makes sense to sell certain players doesn’t mean it’s going to materialise as we’d like. For all the talk over Martinez’s future, we don’t even have a legitimate offer for a player of his class. On Barrenechea, I might be wrong, but I don’t recall a reliable journalist confirming anything, it’s just been Spanish media, who could in fairness be correct & we don’t want to be fleeced for a top talent. If Villa haven’t had to sell anyone after all this and selling the women’s team covers it, I’ll be delighted with it rather than looking to see what the experts are now saying as it will mean we’re in a good place. As you rightly pointed out though, SCR is still a problem but hopefully a less urgent one to address.