TOTTENHAM ARE THE GREAL DEAL
Poch on verge of landing bargain-buy Jack
TOTTENHAM’S stand-off with Aston Villa over Jack Grealish is close to ending, with Mauricio Pochettino wanting the attacking midfielder for the club’s US tour.
Grealish would provide competition for Dele Alli and is ready to quit his boyhood team for a return to the top-flight.
But Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has been stalling to drive down the price for the 22-yearold with Villa in a financial crisis after failing to go up last season.
Manager Steve Bruce said Grealish’s sale was “inevitable”, but time is running out for Pochettino (right) to sign him in time for the America trip.
Spurs leave for Los Angeles on Sunday and have three games scheduled in the International Champions Cup, against Roma on July 26, then Barcelona and AC Milan.
Villa originally wanted £40million for Grealish and may now settle for about half that sum, while Spurs will offer a fiveyear deal which will see his £20,000-a-week salary rocket.
Grealish has come to terms with the necessity of leaving Villa since missing out on promotion in the Championship play-off final.
Leicester were keen on him but have since moved for James Maddison, while fellow suitors West Ham landed Jack Wilshere. That has left Tottenham poised to get their man after Liverpool declined to bid.
Grealish watched England’s World Cup with interest knowing he could be in the same team as Spurs’ striker Harry Kane next season. He is understood to feel he could provide top service to Kane – for both club and country. Uncapped Grealish’s England ambitions have been fuelled by advice from close pal and mentor John Terry, who was his teammate last term. The former England Under-21 star scored three goals and provided six assists last season after returning to the Villa team in November following kidney surgery. He has been training hard in preseason and laid on a goal for Harvey Knibbs in a 1-1 draw at Kidderminster on Saturday after a trademark bursting run.