What are Aston Villa’s limits in the transfer window?

‘Tis the season to panic buy - or spend smartly. We’ve already seen some major deals get completed - mostly involving Liverpool - but still, nows the time that clubs will show what they are really made with as they chuck some serious cash around.

As for Aston Villa, there’s still something that they can do - but they will likely leave it late, and cheap.

What can they actually spend? Well, there’s a fair bit of guesswork involved when we consider what Villa’s transfer budget could be this month, but in all honestly, it’s between £1 million and zero.

Aston Villa can spend if they want, but they are close to breaching Financial Fair Play rules. That means that they shouldn’t really spend anything - especially with their lofty spends in previous years as well as their gargantuan wage bills.

If Villa want to buy someone, they’d really need to consider selling a current player first. Birkir Bjarnason and Henri Lansbury look likely. However, if you consider who Villa look to bring in - Nick Powell - they may as well keep the players they have, who already play in a similar style to Powell. Villa can’t really spend for the sake of it this month. Villa are also in for Lewis Grabban, who would be an expensive signing. Big wage demands and a fee for a 29 year old striker? Count us out. Ideally, if Villa do splash the cash - it needs to be on a ball-winning midfielder. Mile Jedinak has bossed the ball for Villa this season, and the team needs a backup to him.

Now, it’s not as bad as it is at Sunderland (who can only loan players), but Villa will really need to think about spending this month. Any purchase will drag them closer to Financial Fair Play limits. That will seem pointless if they reinforce a strong area.

In conclusion, we’re expecting Villa to spend something this month, but it won’t be a lot. Their hands are tied.