It’s impossible for Aston Villa to smash the Premier League glass ceiling and failed transfer shows exactly what’s wrong

Jan 18, 2026 - 20:30

‘Little old Villa, back in our box. All thanks to PSR’.

That was the view of one furious home supporter as he made his way out of Villa Park following his side’s 1-0 defeat at the hands of Everton.

Everton forward Thierno Barry celebrates goal at Aston Villa — Thierno Barry’s second-half goal gave Everton their first win at Villa Park since 2016

Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins during defeat to Everton — Villa were flat and lethargic which could’ve been a symptom of their lack of options available on Sunday

The groans of frustration had long since started to fill the Birmingham air as Unai Emery’s men passed up the chance to move within four points of the Premier League summit.

Everton’s gutsy victory courtesy of only Thierno Barry’s fourth goal in English football also put paid to Villa’s hopes of winning 12 home games on the spin for the first time since the 1971/72 season.

While this was far from the hosts’ most impressive performance of what has been a terrific campaign, that animated fan had good reason to vocalise the anger many at this famous old club are feeling.

It was a first home defeat since losing to Crystal Palace at the end of August, and one that highlighted why PSR rules are hampering Villa and other teams with ambitions to push through their glass ceiling from launching a genuine title push.

Missing injured duo Amadou Onana and Boubacar Kamara – who is having an excellent season –and having seen captain John McGinn hobble off with knee issue after only 18 minutes, Emery was restricted to bringing on left-back Lucas Digne and teenager George
Hemmings when chasing an equaliser.

It does make the decision to allow Donyell Malen to join Roma without as of yet signing a replacement a little bit of a head-scratcher.

But, since Emery’s arrival in October 2022 Villa’s net spend is among the lowest in the whole of the division, which makes the fact they could have gone second in the table even more remarkable.

When England World Cup hopeful Conor Gallagher joins a Tottenham Hotspur team languishing nearer the relegation places than the top four because Villa cannot afford to pay his transfer fee this side of the summer, something is fundamentally wrong.

“We have our own way, and we are confident. We have very good players,” said Emery on the eve of the game.

“We are a huge club, we have fantastic supporters. Villa Park is special, it’s a fortress. But we don’t have the potential to sign, for example, Manchester City signing Semenyo. Like Tottenham signing Gallagher.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery at defeat to Everton at Villa Park — Emery has attempted to put a brave face on Villa’s PSR struggles

John McGinn goes off injured during Aston Villa's defeat to Everton — McGinn being absent long-term would be a massive blow to Villa amid their thin squad

Conor Gallagher signs for Tottenham Hotspur — Gallagher ended up joining 14th-placed Spurs with Atletico Madrid preferring Spurs’ offer of a permanent move to Villa’s loan offer with potential to buy in the summer

“We are positive and we have enough positive energy to get to the
challenges that we have – without the power another team can have.”

It was an admirable attempt by Emery not to use the lop-sided fiscal regulations as an excuse for any future shortcomings.

But the simple truth is that what started as a well-meaning attempt to prevent another Portsmouth situation, whereby the south coast side went from FA Cup winners to near oblivion in the space of a few short years, has turned into simply making the top of the table
pretty much a closed shop.

Once the new UEFA-style Squad Cost Ratio system is implemented for the start of next season, the gap between the haves and the have nots will only grow bigger.

It is why no matter how good their manager is or how deep their owners’ pockets are we are unlikely to see Villa add to their collection of seven league titles any time soon and why we will probably never see a Sir Jack Walker/Blackburn-style fairy tale.

More’s the pity.

Morgan Rogers looks frustrated during Aston Villa's defeat to Everton — Villa missed the chance to strengthen their title challenge after Manchester City and Arsenal dropped points earlier in the weekend

Emery refuses to blame PSR

Villa boss Emery wouldn’t be drawn into the suggestions that Sunday’s defeat was a symptom of the financial constraints his club are confronted with.

When asked if the financial rules are making it difficult for clubs like Villa to break through the Premier League’s glass ceiling, Emery told talkSPORT: “Yes but we are performing with those difficulties three years ago, two years ago, last year and this year and of course I am so happy how we are performing with some players we can have.”

Emery added: “The same players we had last week and we were performing very well.

“And of course we are going to work the next days to try to add, to join some players with us because we will need for the rest of the season.

“But with the players we have now it’s enough.”