Newcastle Untied are reportedly interested in signing Jack Grealish from Aston Villa this summer.
Rafa Benitez is preparing his squad for their second season in the top flight after guiding the Magpies to a top-half finish that few saw coming. That fact has undoubtedly made it imperative that the club do not become complacent during this summer’s window.
And it appears that they may have no plans to be complacent, with the Chronicle suggesting that they are the latest side to consider a move for Grealish, who is available as Aston Villa continue to face up to their financial concerns following their inability to secure promotion.
Grealish certainly did all he could to get the Villans back to the highest level. The 22-year-old enjoyed a stunning season after battling back from a horrific injury last summer, and was simply superb during the final weeks of the campaign in particular.
He was clearly Villa’s best player in their play-off final defeat. And it appears that the Villa fans may have to accept that that could be his last appearance for the club – despite the Chronicle suggesting that he would like to stay.
The Chronicle adds that Villa will demand £40 million for their talisman, but with Newcastle one of six sides linked in the Chronicle’s report alone, it would appear that there is a good chance that someone will stump up the money to prise the youngster away.
Given what Newcastle have spent in the last few transfer windows, it would certainly catch many off-guard if they were able to meet Villa’s asking price for Grealish.
But there would undoubtedly be few better statements that Mike Ashley could make to Benitez regarding the Magpies’ ambition than to give him the kind of funds that would seemingly make a move for the attacking midfielder possible this summer.
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