According to the Chronicle, Newcastle are interested in signing Aston Villa star Jack Grealish and could look to strike a deal with the talented England U-21 international as a result of their current financial crisis.
As many of you will know, the club are facing the very real threat of going into administration after missing a tax-bill. They have a week to pay it back and will be hit with a winding up order if they fail to do so (which could result in compulsory liquidation).
Even if they avoid administration, the club look set to be left in a real mess financially, leaving owner Tony Xia with little other choice but to reluctantly cash in on some of their star players this summer:
One of those is Jack Grealish, with the 22-year-old being by far and away their best player last season – and it’s being claimed that we now retain an interest in bringing him to St James’ Park.
Here’s what the Chronicle’s Mark Douglas has had to say on the deal, claiming Rafa Benitez is keen on the elusive number 10:
“Newcastle United are monitoring the unfolding situation at Aston Villa as they – along with half of the Premier League – retain an interest in playmaker Jack Grealish.
“Rafa Benitez wants a forward-thinking, creative midfielder and Grealish, Villa’s best player and an England under-21 international, would fit that bill.
“Grealish would ideally like to stay at Villa Park but the club’s financial problems – there has been speculation about the club going into administration – means that he will be available for transfer this summer.”
It’s take a while for him to actually start performing consistently at Aston Villa, but I’ve watched them quite a few times over the last year and Grealish has stood out every time.
Despite being just 22, he shows real composure and class on the ball and looks just the sort of number 10 we lack at the moment.
That being said, it’s worth mentioning that we are clearly not the only ones interested and I’d also expect Villa to command a hefty fee – even if they are in desperate need of any money they can get their hands on.
Some will no doubt say ‘we need better than Championship players’, but I really do think he’d prove to be an excellent buy for the club if we managed to pull this one off.
What a load of rubbish. We will not sign him. Villa want a reported £30 million for him and have stated they will not take a cheap sale despite their financial problems.
Magpie 48(Quote)
He may be the one player they push to keep hold of. If they didn’t actually reduce asking price it would never happen, but they may have no choice..
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Hi is Villa’s version of Sissoko who is a great player but turns up when he feels like it….Not a Rafa type player with questionable work ethic.
BillytheFish(Quote)