Liverpool have reportedly opened up talks with Aston Villa over the transfer of their playmaker Jack Grealish, who is also a target for Tottenham.
If reports from The Mirror are to be believed, Liverpool have taken the first step to firm up their interest in Jack Grealish. The Aston Villa star has been tipped for a move to the Premier League, with Tottenham the likeliest destination. But Liverpool could play spoilsport.
So far, Tottenham are the only club to have lodged in a bid for Grealish. But, the £15 million offer is far too low compared to Aston Villa’s valuation of the Englishman. Villa value their star in the bracket of £40 million or so. But, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is looking to strong-arm the cash strapped club to accept the downsized bid.
Grealish has always been tipped for greatness, ever since he made his Premier League debut in the 2013-14 season. Two seasons of development and growth followed for young Grealish before Aston Villa had to suffer relegation. The playmaker though, did not wish for a move and has instead worked hard to become a regular for the Lions.
Aston Villa came close to earning a Premier League return, only to lose to Fulham in the Championship Playoff final. The loss has been followed by a major need for cash at the club. While their tax payment has been taken care of, chairman Tony Xia has admitted that there will be some player sales in order to improve the cash situation of the club.
Jack Grealish is one of the players that is generating substantial interest from the Premier League. The player has been linked to Manchester United, Tottenham and Liverpool.
Liverpool have Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah as their designated attacking trio. Naby Keita and Fabinho have come in to help Jordan Henderson in the midfield. But, Grealish is a player who can slot in any of the five positions, barring Henderson’s role as a holding midfielder.
The Reds have initiated talks with Aston Villa over the possibility of a transfer for Grealish. Jurgen Klopp and his men though, are yet to table a concrete offer to the club.
This leaves Tottenham at the head of the pile for Jack Grealish. While the offer might be low, they are the only team to have submitted a bid up until now. Daniel Levy might be attempting to strong-arm Aston Villa. But, Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly a fan of Jack Grealish.
The manager believes Grealish has what it takes to become a genuine superstar at Tottenham. While he will be competing with Dele Alli for minutes in his first season, Pochettino believes in the talent Grealish possesses. This might see Levy softening his stance and improving on his £15 million bid.
Whatever be the case, if Liverpool fail to submit a concrete offer to Aston Villa within the coming fortnight, expect Tottenham to move in for Grealish, perhaps with a slightly improved offer. The Lions though, will have to be content with a heavy deduction on their valuation for the Englishman. Considering their position, Levy is hoping they are desperate enough to not risk a botched transfer.
