Alan Shearer has criticised the financial pressures facing Aston Villa after a summer of major departures, admitting he has sympathy for Unai Emery’s side as they rebuild their squad.
Villa have generated more than £250million from player sales, with Morgan Rogers, Ezri Konsa and Youri Tielemans among the established names to leave Villa Park.
Ollie Watkins has also departed for Al-Hilal, while Emiliano Martínez is closing in on a move to Chelsea.
The turnover has left Emery constructing a significantly different side only months after winning the Europa League and qualifying for another Champions League campaign.
Alan Shearer sympathises with Aston Villa
Speaking as a Betfair ambassador, Shearer compared Villa’s predicament with the situation Newcastle United have faced.
“I have a bit of sympathy for Villa because we’re in the same boat at Newcastle.”
The former England captain then delivered a strong verdict on clubs having to continually cash in on important players.
“I don’t think it’s right. You have to constantly sell your best players.”
BirminghamLive reports that Shearer believes the current financial landscape has hit Villa particularly hard.
Villa’s dramatic turnover has been reflected throughout the squad, with only 65.6 per cent of last season’s group retained.
The club’s summer sales have nevertheless created greater flexibility to rebuild.
We looked in detail at what Aston Villa’s £300m transfer sales could mean before deadline day, including the impact of the Premier League’s new Squad Cost Ratio system and UEFA’s stricter 70 per cent limit.
Shearer backs Unai Emery to rebuild Aston Villa
Despite his concerns over the turnover, Shearer remains confident Villa have the right manager to negotiate such significant change.
He described Emery as an “incredible manager” and said he would continue backing Villa while the Spaniard remains in charge.
That faith will be tested immediately.
Villa have already brought Nicolas Jackson and Leon Goretzka into Emery’s rebuilt squad, while Ibrahim Mbaye has given Villa the green light ahead of a proposed €55m move from PSG.
The scale of change is considerable, but Shearer clearly believes Emery gives Villa the best chance of making it work.
