Robins on list of clubs owed transfer cash
JONATHAN Kodjia is one of the players Villa still owe money for, with Bristol City due an instalment this summer – with payments also outstanding for James Chester and Ross McCormack.
The Robins are keeping a close eye on events at Villa Park with reports last week claiming the crisis club successfully paid their June wages but that they still potentially owe John Terry money and are struggling with their cash flow.
Sources in Bristol have suggested Villa will accept a bid for Kodjia if a club meets their asking price, such is the dire need to raise funds. Villa’s financial crisis has led to them signing away more future income in return for a quick buck.
It was recently revealed the club had signed away €8 million they were due to receive from Marseille for the transfer of Jordan Amavi to Australian bank Macquarie.
Companies House has since detailed another agreement, which will see part of the fee Italian side Fiorentina are due to pay Villa for Jordan Veretout also transferred to the same bank. Veretout signed for Villa in 2015 but joined the Serie A outfit permanently after just 38 appearances in claret and blue.
Since arriving in Florence, he has rediscovered his best form and now has a host of top clubs keen to sign him, including Inter Milan.
Fiorentina were due to pay Villa €1 million on July 5 and a further €750,000 on January 5 but both of those payments will now be made to Macquarie.
Similar to the Amavi deal, Villa will have been loaned a sum of money to help their immediate cash-flow problems.
They have signed over the €1.75 million they were due to receive from Fiorentina for Veretout as insurance on the loan.
Villa’s gamble on promotion to the Premier League has backfired massively and the club is now desperately trying to balance the books.
They will have to sell their star players this summer and are also exploring ways to get big earners like McCormack and Micah Richards off the books.
Fulham (McCormack) and Albion (Chester) are reported to be owed payments of £6 million and £2 million respectively, while Brentford are awaiting £3 million for the transfer of Scott Hogan, with the final instalment due next January.