Newcastle United have joined the race to sign Aston Villa playmaker Jack Grealish following the extraordinary events this week at the Championship club, according to the Chronicle.
The regional newspaper claim United have placed Grealish, 22, on their target list as they look to sign a creative midfielder who can unlock defences.
The Chronicle report that the former England Under-21-international will be available for transfer due to Villa’s financial problems that have put them on the verge of administration.
OPINION
The race for Grealish’s signature promises to be a highly competitive one this summer, as the Premier League big guns sense an opportunity to sign a dazzling talent for a cut-price fee. There have been suggestions of a £40million-plus valuation of Villa’s prize asset, but the bidding is likely to start at around half that level given that he has spent the last two seasons in the Championship and the Midlands giants are in desperate need of cash. With Villa struggling to pay their monthly costs and owner Tony Xia looking to sell up two years after buying the club, it is highly unlikely Grealish will continue his association with the club where he has come through the ranks beyond this summer. Can Newcastle be the club to take advantage of the bombshell events at Villa? Possibly. Rafael Benitez’s side is crying out for a dribbler who can carry the ball forward and unlock organised defences. Grealish is a special talent but Newcastle would have to spend big to get him.
