Tottenham suffer Jacob Ramsey transfer setback as Aston Villa secure crucial PSR deals

Tottenham have suffered something of a setback when it comes to their pursuit of Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey. The 23-year-old had a fragmented season due to injury this year, but is a player Spurs like.

Spurs have been linked with a move for Ramsey in the past and are once again tipped to make an approach, although football.london understands that reports of a formal approach having already been made are wide of the mark.

Head coach Ange Postecoglou is a keen admirer of the midfielder, who has three years left on his contract at Villa Park. And football.london understands that Spurs' interest in Ramsey has not dulled at all despite his injury-hit season.

The north London club have enquired again about his availability this month with Villa although they are reluctant to sell. However, it had been suggested that Financial Fair Play and Premier League Profit & Sustainability Rules could have an impact on Villa's hopes of keeping hold of Ramsey and other players, like Jhon Duran, who has been linked with Chelsea.

That may not be the case anymore, however. PSR allows for clubs to make a maximum of £105million losses over a three-year period, although allowable deductions are permitted for investment into infrastructure, the women’s team, the academy, and community initiatives.

According to figures presented by football finance expert Swiss Ramble, who has estimated the PSR positions of football clubs in England’s top tier, adding in the profits made on the sales of the likes of Cameron Archer, Aaron Ramsey and Jaden Philogene, the club still required more than £50million in player trading profit before the end of the current financial year.

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Villa’s sale of Douglas Luiz to Juventus is on the cusp of being finalised, the fee believed to be in the region of £43million for the Brazilian, while an £18.5million deal has been struck separately that will see Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea head to Villa Park in the opposite direction from Turin.

Selling academy graduates is a profitable exercise as they have no book value, so the sale counts as pure profit on the accounts. The £9million deal to take Tim Iroegbunam to Everton, and the £19million sale of Omari Kellyman to Chelsea adds in £28million of profit, taking player profit to £59.5million.

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Then there is the signing of Ian Maatsen from Chelsea in a £37.5million deal, one that would bring around £7.5million annually. Add to that the £2million annual amortised cost of signing Lewis Dobbin from Everton for £10million, a deal that was done due to the simpatico relationship created due to PSR issues, and that brings up a £13.2million annual amortised cost.

That leaves Villa at an estimated £46.3million in player trading profit having sold three players and signed fourth. Essentially that means Villa are compliant with PSR moving forward and the requirement to sell players, such as Ramsey, is no longer there.

That could see Spurs rebuffed in any attempts to sign him during this transfer window, particularly as Villa re already reluctant to let him go.