Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce has admitted that the club will be restricted by Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations when the January window opens.

The West Midlands club have forced themselves into the play-offs after a great recent run and it appears Bruce will have to continue with the same squad throughout the season.

Speaking to the Express & Star, the ex-Hull boss said that major incomings are unlikely.“As I have said repeatedly now, we are under the guards of FFP. We have to be careful with what we do. I have not had any conversations with people about that. I would not have thought it has changed that much. We are still under the restriction.”

Villa spent just £2.5m on transfer fees in the summer, although they did spend a lot in January.

They also received fees totalling over £20m after shifting the likes of Jordan Amavi and Jordan Veretout. One player Bruce will look to sign permanently however is goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, but nothing is already agreed. “I really have not had the conversation with Jose. It will be one for nearer the time.”

The Verdict

This will be worrying news for Villa fans. January is never a time for wholesale changes, but one or two additions can kick a team on, but Villa may struggle to find the right players if they're on a budget.

It's not disastrous, as Bruce has a very capable and deep squad at the moment, but there's no doubt they could do with extra quality, particularly up front.

However, he will have to search for bargains, or if not get the best out of the players he has, because there are many talented players who haven't contributed as he would've hoped.

Thoughts, Villa fans? Let us know in the comments below.

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