Tottenham have spent an initial £75m on Sávio, with Aston Villa appearing likely to sell Ollie Watkins, The Guardian Football reports. This significant investment by Spurs comes as Villa's squad crumbles, with several key players departing, including Morgan Rogers, who has left for Chelsea. The disparity in spending between the two clubs is stark, with Spurs having spent an estimated £322m in the transfer window, excluding the loan of Manchester City's Omar Marmoush.
The financial rules governing the Premier League, known as profitability and sustainability rules (PSR), have been criticized for creating a closed shop, where only clubs with big stadiums and commercial benefits can compete for the best talent. Villa's owners, Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, have been limited in their ability to spend due to these rules, which have been in place since 2018. The rules have led to a situation where clubs are incentivized to generate as much revenue as possible, with at least £70 of every £100 invested in the squad.
Spurs' ability to generate significant revenue from non-football events, such as NFL matches and summer concerts, has given them a significant advantage over Villa. The club's commercial revenue has increased from £59m to £277m since the move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, while Villa's commercial revenue was £98m in the same season.