OPINION
West Ham must take advantage of the escalating Aston Villa crisis to make a swoop for Jack Grealish.
The Hammers have been linked with a move for the Villa playmaker in recent weeks and could now land him at a bargain price amid a series of alarming updates from the Midlands giants.
Sky Sports correspondent Rob Dorsett reported on his personal Twitter account on Wednesday morning that club insiders “fear sale of best players” amid serious administration concerns in what is possibly the “biggest crisis in club’s history”.
Understand Dr Xia is looking for inward investment and is prepared to sell #avfc for right price. Talks with HMRC ongoing. Administration a real concern – mainly cash flow problems in China. Insiders fear fire sale of best players. Poss biggest crisis in club’s history.
— Rob Dorsett (@RobDorsettSky) June 6, 2018
The door is open for clubs to plunder the best talent from Villa, who fell at the final hurdle in their bid to return to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs.
Villa had slapped a reported £45million asking price on their prize asset and Ex-WHU Employee, who breaks Hammerrs stories ahead of the mainstream media, explained in a Twitter exchange with a West Ham fan that he is on the club’s list of transfer targets but they have been “put off” by the asking price.
Yes but put off by club demands https://t.co/QDOfuEc5wo
— ExWHUemployee (@ExWHUemployee) June 1, 2018
That valuation is likely to now change, as Villa look to cash in on their prize assets just to keep going.
Following their Wembley agony, the club already faced a tricky task to keep Grealish at Villa Park, despite the young midfielder’s allegiance to the club. It now looks an impossible one.
Grealish would be an exciting signing for West Ham, given his talent and immense promise. He has much to learn, but his tricks and quick feet made him one of the most exciting players in the Championship in 2017-18.
When on song, he can weave between defenders and leave their heads spinning and limbs flailing.
There will be plenty of interested top-flight clubs in signing Grealish, and much will depend on who is willing to make Villa an offer they can’t refuse.
The door is ajar for West Ham.
