Everton and Tottenham Hotspur have both been linked with Jack Grealish and James Maddison.
Aston Villa need to balance the books this summer after missing out on promotion back to the Premier League – and playmaker Jack Grealish looks sure to be sold to a Premier League club.
The 1-0 Championship play-off final defeat to Fulham at Wembley Stadium last month has left Villa with rising costs, decreasing parachute payments and no Premier League TV money.
With an ageing squad, there aren’t too many saleable assets, but playmaker Grealish is in demand after hitting three goals and six assists for Villa this past season.
Grealish, 22, appears to have matured at Villa and is now wanted by a host of Premier League sides, with the Daily Mail claming interest from Everton, whilst Sky Sports report that Tottenham Hotspur have submitted a £15million bid.
Intriguingly though, the two sides may face a similar dilemma, given that The Mirror state that Norwich City’s James Maddison has become a top target for Everton, whilst The Sun believe he is an alternative target for Tottenham if they can’t land Grealish.
21-year-old Maddison was one of the Championship’s top talents this past season with 14 goals and eight assists for Norwich, with both he and Grealish emerging as two of the top playmakers in the second tier.
Everton and Tottenham appear to want both players, but are weighing up their options. The duo are tricky, skilful and creative, though Grealish’s previous struggles in the Premier League may mean that Maddison – an unknown quantity in the top flight – gets the nod with some.
Grealish may be the priority right now for both sides given Villa’s financial woes, but Maddison is rightly wanted by Everton and Spurs too, and the two teams will have to think long and hard over who they truly want this summer.
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