Unai Emery’s decision to cash in makes Aston Villa ones to watch in summer window

Aston Villa have cashed in on Jhon Duran, with his sale to Al-Nassr set to swell the Midlands club’s coffers and hand Unai Emery a massive warchest for the transfer window

Aston Villa’s strikeforce has been broken up – but it’s Jhon Duran and NOT Ollie Watkins who is heading out of Villa Park.

Arsenal’s last-ditch £40m bid to snare Unai Emery’s No.1 forward has failed but the Birmingham club is set to cash in with his Colombian colleague. Duran has agreed a mammoth five-and-a-half-year deal – with wages approaching £500,000 a week – following a £77.5m move to Saudi Pro club Al-Nassr.

That switch has blocked any move for England international Watkins during this transfer window, regardless of how much money the Gunners offer.

The fee for Duran will give Emery huge financial muscle in the transfer market as the tills have been red-hot at Villa Park following the club’s foray into the Champions League.

Villa managed to squeeze themselves into the top eight following a Morgan Rogers-inspired 4-2 victory over Celtic. And that has brought with it a huge pay-day that could have significant bearing on what Emery does during the close season.

Villa are set to benefit from £75m, as the figures make evident the scale of their achievement in qualifying for the Champions League.

Duran’s sale has cleared over £60m in profit in just two years and the money from Europe will have a huge effect on the club’s profit and sustainability position.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Is the decision to sell Jhon Duran the right move? Comment below.

Last summer, Villa were sweating on the sale of Douglas Luiz to Juventus going through for £50m. Had it not, they would have been looking at sanctions.

But now, due to the mammoth payout, they will be scouring the markets for players to maintain the club’s upwards push.

Villa have banked £9.5m for ending on 16 points, £9.2m for reaching the last 16 and a further £1.7m for finishing in the top eight. A payment of £7m will be heading to the Birmingham club for finishing either.

An additional £15m has been banked in gate receipts, and around £16-17m is due from broadcasters in co-efficient payments.

All that, added to a participation fee of £17m means that Villa will have plenty of firepower in this summer’s market.

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