Jack not in a box for Levy
making them the third richest owners in English football.
They have immediately pumped in cash to prevent Villa from falling into administration. And now they’ve told Grealish he’s going nowhere.
That will come as a major blow to Spurs who had put in plenty of groundwork convincing the midfielder that his future lay with them.
A Villa source said: “Spurs could have pushed the button on this two weeks ago before the takeover.
“They didn’t. And now the owners have said that neither he, nor James Chester, is going anywhere.
“They want to build Villa. That’s not going to happen by selling the club’s best players.”
Manager Steve Bruce was given the news at a meeting with his new bosses.
Bruce has had his own position confirmed amid a financial landscape that has changed dramatically within just one week.
Trouble
Levy’s gamble was understandable.
Villa were asking £15m plus add-ons, taking the total deal over £20m – but Levy bet on them slipping deeper into trouble – and the opposite happened.
Villa were staring down a barrel. Money was owed to West Brom as the final £2m instalment on Chester’s transfer, a £4m payroll run and a tax bill – also believed to be £4m – would have pushed them over the edge.
But the purchase of the club was pushed through in double-quick time, saving Villa – and preventing them from having to cash in on their most valuable asset.
It now remains to be seen how far the new owners back their manager with Financial Fair Play still understood to be an issue.
The Geordie has already lost six loan players since the last campaign, including John Terry, Robert Snodgrass and Lewis Grabban.
He needs help if he is to mount a sustainable promotion push and return Villa to the big-time.