Aston Villa are set to escape punishment from the Football League after raising £18million in player sales this summer.

Villa offloaded nine senior players in the transfer window, either permanently or on loan, in a bid to fall in line with Financial Fair Play regulations.

The Championship club were in danger of breaching League rules after incurring heavy losses in the past, but are now in a healthier financial state after their summer clear-out.

Stringent new rules dictate that clubs can lose up to £83million over the course of three seasons, and in February Villa revealed a deficit of £81.3million, leaving them dangerously close to sanctions.

Jordan Veretout, Carlos Sanchez, Nathan Baker and Leandro Bacuna have since left the club while Jordan Amavi’s loan move to Marseille is expected to be made permanent next year.

Villa did sign seven players but, crucially, only spent an initial £2million on Glenn Whelan and Ahmed Elmohamady.

Jordan Amavi was one of a number of Aston Villa players to be shipped out

Former Chelsea captain John Terry earns around £70,000 a week after signing on a free transfer, while the deal to sign Robert Snodgrass from West Ham on loan is also understood to include Villa paying around £40,000 a week of his wages.

But Villa’s success in generating cash through sales will ease fears over possible punishment, which could include a heavy fine or points deduction.

Last month manager Steve Bruce admitted: “I told people before the end of last season that there won’t be millions spent.

Steve Bruce has had to balance the books at Villa Park credit: Rex Features

“I’ve had to balance the books. It’s always been a part of the manager’s job. In that respect, I’m trying to clean up the mess.

“The question you always ask is: Can I spend some money? At this particular moment, no I can’t.

“We have to get on with what we’ve got and I think we’ve still got a good enough squad to be challenging. I’m convinced about that.”