- Repeating last season's heroics seems difficult this time for Aston Villa
- Club restricted by spending rules despite being owned by billionaires
- LISTEN NOW: It's all starting! New line-up, some new faces, but optimism has faded at Old Trafford
Aston Villa face needing to sell key players unless they can re-qualify for the Champions League or make significant progress in this season's competition.
Unai Emery's side finished fourth in the Premier League last season to reach Europe's top club competition and are now on the brink of the last 16.
But repeating that result looks difficult this time and Villa are restricted by Premier League spending rules, despite being owned by billionaires Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens.
Boss Emery said: 'Of course, profitability and sustainability rules sometimes prevent us from improving, but the idea is to try to keep moving forward.
“Being in the Champions League gives us a better chance of achieving that, as does qualifying for the Europa League or the Conference League.
'We have to be smart. We have to use different ways to improve our team.
Unai Emery fears that Aston Villa will have to sell if they do not qualify for the Champions League
Villa would make huge profits by getting rid of the likes of Morgan Rogers (pictured)
“If we have to sell players, let's do it, but always with the idea of replacing them with someone who can improve us.”
Villa want to sign Dutch forward Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund for around £20m but are expected to let fringe players such as Jaden Philogene go.
If they sold Morgan Rogers, Jhon Duran or Boubacar Kamara, they would make huge profits but weaken their team.
Emery added: “The club always looks forward and tries to increase our financial capacity.”