Aston Villa have been dealt a considerable financial blow less than two weeks after the closure of the summer transfer window.
Up until June 30, the Premier League outfit were doing everything possible to ensure that they did not breach the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules.
A points deduction was averted due to the sale of Douglas Luiz to Juventus on the deadline day for accounts being filed, club officials having since admitted that they struggled to move out of the red.
Villa are now focused on matters on the pitch having started the new top-flight campaign by accumulating six points from their opening three games.
Furthermore, Villa also have one eye on their Champions League bow next week when they make the trip to Switzerland to play Young Boys.
Nevertheless, it appears that they have already been provided with a blow in a financial sense due to the quick progression of one of their recent arrivals.
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Villa need to pay Nedeljkovic clause
Kosta Nedeljkovic may have only turned 18 years of age in December, yet it did not stop Villa from shelling out an initial £8m on the Red Star Belgrade full-back.
Having finished the 2023-24 campaign at Red Star, the expectation was that the teenager would go back out on loan to further his development.
Instead, Unai Emery opted to keep him as an option in his senior ranks, a shrewd move given that he has since featured in all three Premier League fixtures this season.
After making a positive impression, Nedeljkovic was subsequently called up to the Serbia squad and completed the full 90 minutes in a goalless draw against Spain in the first of two UEFA Nations League fixtures played across the international break.
While everyone associated with Villa will naturally be encouraged by his rapid progression, it has left the West Midlands outfit needing to shell out some money.
According to Mozzart Sport, Villa owe Red Star a fee of €1.5m (£1.3m) on the back of his international debut.
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Nedeljkovic to receive more action?
An injury sustained by Matty Cash during the early stages of the 2-0 defeat to Arsenal last month catapulted Nedeljkovic into the spotlight.
However, helping his country to a share of the spoils against the European champions just a few weeks later was certainly not envisaged by all concerned.
Lamare Bogarde got the nod over the prospect against Leicester City before the international break, yet Emery will now feel encouraged to hand Nedeljkovic his first Villa start.
From Saturday, they play five games in the space of two weeks, with Everton, Young Boys, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wycombe Wanderers and Ipswich Town their opponents in three different competitions.
Darren Plant
