'Medical booked' - Aston Villa strike transfer exit agreement with Championship club as late PSR moves begin

Coventry City have struck a full agreement with Aston Villa to sign right-back Kaine Kesler-Hayden, according to a reputable report.

The Sky Blues are expected to sign Kesler-Hayden before close of play today (June 30), though it’s not thought to be hurried by Villa’s need to meet a significant deadline. The Villans, at risk of breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) due to incurring a loss of more than £105 million in the last three years, have until midnight tonight to submit their accounts.

Any sales will help a great deal but there’s no rush to get the Kesler-Hayden deal done in regards to PSR. It’s expected to go through soon enough, though as The Telegraph reports Coventry have agreed a £3.5 million fee to sign Kesler-Hayden and the defender will undergo his medical later today.

It awaits to be seen if there will be a sell-on clause included in the deal but it seems like a bargain acquisition for Coventry, who are likely to sell current right-back Milan van Ewijk once the swoop is completed. It’s a great move for Kesler-Hayden, who has now found a new permanent home where he can be guaranteed starts.

The 22-year-old deserves every success, too, as he worked very hard to win Preston North End’s player of the season award while on loan at Deepdale throughout 2024/25. Kesler-Hayden played 44 of Preston’s 46 Championship matches and impressed with his defensive work rate and tenacity down the right flank.

Kesler-Hayden sale could be first of many for Aston Villa

With the PSR deadline looming, Villa are expected to sanction more sales after Kesler-Hayden. There is no need to fast-track departures to meet the PSR requirements but exits will be necessary regardless as Villa also have work to do to meet UEFA’s squad cost rules (SCR).

Under that jurisdiction, teams in the Europa League cannot spend more than 70 per cent of their income on player costs. As Villa’s wage bill takes up more than 80 per cent of their revenue, some high-earning players will need to leave. The alternative is risking a hefty fine and a possible points deduction.

Emiliano Martinez and Leon Bailey are among the most high-profile first-team stars who have been linked with moves away. Nothing has developed for either player, however, despite interest from the Saudi Pro League for both. Manchester United and Atletico Madrid are believed to be looking at Martinez but are yet to make official offers.

Fringe players could depart, too, with Villa open to offers for Emiliano Buendia, Enzo Barrenechea, Leander Dendoncker and Louie Barry. Interested teams have already come forward for Buendia, Barrenechea and Barry but the situation is a little more complicated for Dendoncker.

Villa now utilising PSR loophole

Back to the more pressing issue of PSR, Villa will follow in the footsteps of Premier League rivals Chelsea in a last-ditch effort to avoid sanctions. Back in April, it emerged that the Blues had sold their women’s team to parent company BlueCo for £198.7 million, putting the overall business into profit rather than a loss.

Villa are now adopting a similar approach. Birmingham World understands that the club are in advanced talks to sell a 10 per cent stake of the women’s team. Villa’s sister company, V Sports, owned by chairmen Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, will then buy the rest of the women’s side. There’s therefore no longer any need to rush any sales.