West Ham United are keen on striking a deal to bring Aston Villa starlet Jack Grealish to the London Stadium this summer, according to the Daily Mail.
The newspaper report that Villa may be forced into selling some of their prize assets in the coming weeks in an attempt to meet Financial Fair Play regulations, with the club needing to raise about £45million.
The Mail claim that Grealish is now the most likely star to depart the club and help fill that gap, with the Hammers showing interest alongside Everton and Leicester City.
It is said that Villa would not accept £25million for Grealish, with the club believing his value is much higher.
Good move for West Ham?
Absolutely.
Grealish has really come into his own this year and has been instrumental to Villa’s run to the play-off final, with the young dynamo finally beginning to justify the hype surrounding him since his first-team breakthrough.
A life-threatening kidney injury at the beginning of the season seemed to be the catalyst for Grealish’s upturn in form, and he would certainly have starred for Villa in the Premier League had they been promoted.
West Ham would therefore do well to snap him up this summer, with the 22-year-old surely destined for a big career in the top-flight and with England.
Forever West Ham rating: 8/10
Likely to happen?
It does look like Villa may be forced into selling some of their big-name players this summer, and Grealish would seem to be the obvious name.
However, one issue here may be the player’s wishes, with Grealish having been at Villa since he was a boy and holding a great affinity with the club.
There is therefore doubt that Grealish will be willing to move, and that could be an obstacle to any move.
However, if West Ham were to table a big offer and a significant wage packet for Grealish, then a deal can definitely be struck.
Forever West Ham rating: 2/10
