Bournemouth's remarkable rise from the Championship to the brink of European football has drawn fascinating comparisons with Aston Villa's recent journey—and one key lesson the Cherries may have learned earlier than their rivals.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, football correspondent Rory Smith highlighted how Bournemouth have navigated the tricky financial landscape of modern football with savvy squad-building and timely player sales—something Aston Villa may have "realised too late."

Under Andoni Iraola, Bournemouth could qualify for European competition for the first time in their history this season, just before the manager hands over the reins to incoming head coach Marco Rose. It's a testament to the club's long-term vision.

"Aston Villa's argument is that they've been held back by PSR rules," Smith explained. "They believe that stopped them from making the journey from Championship to Champions League in less than five years—which is apparently too slow."

Bournemouth, by contrast, have ridden out the financial constraints with remarkable poise. They've operated close to their PSR headroom but have now benefited from the rules being abolished. More importantly, they've embraced a crucial reality of the modern game: sometimes you have to sell a star player to keep moving forward.

"They have done really well in realising that the game is there to be played—and that game involves clubs like them selling a player every now and again," Smith said. "Every so often you do have to cash-in on a big player, which I would argue Aston Villa maybe realised too late."

The numbers back up Bournemouth's approach. Since selling Antoine Semenyo in January, they haven't lost a single match—an astonishing run that speaks volumes about their talent-spotting and squad depth. It's a triumph of planning, not just luck.

"What is going on at Bournemouth is an extraordinary achievement," Smith concluded. "They've had a real triumph in terms of squad-building and talent-spotting."

For fans of the beautiful game—and those who love the smart, strategic side of football—Bournemouth's story is a masterclass in building sustainably while dreaming big. And as they chase a European spot, they're proving that sometimes the smartest move is knowing when to sell, and when to believe.