Aston Villa throw out Tottenham bid as Jack Grealish set to stay
Jack Grealish is poised to stay at Villa and will not force a move to Tottenham, despite the Premier League side’s late bid to sign him.
The clubs have been in talks over the midfielder this summer but Spurs have failed in their attempts to take him before today’s transfer deadline.
Grealish is disappointed not to be given the option of a move to north London but will not hand in a transfer request, it is understood.
Reports suggested the 22-year-old was unhappy Villa have now told Spurs he is no longer for sale but, while he is disappointed, he is unlikely to cause problems.
Spurs’ opening offer of £3million plus Josh Onomah – who spent last season on loan at Villa Park – was well below Villa’s asking price.
A £25m offer lodged on Tuesday night was knocked back yesterday morning, complete with a message from new executive chairman Nassef Sawiris the 22-year-old will not be sold in this window.
The club’s finances are now in a position where they could reject a significantly increased bid, despite concerns with Financial Fair Play.
Villa, meanwhile, have signed Hibernian midfielder John McGinn.
The Scotland midfielder has signed a four-year contract after Villa paid an undisclosed fee, which is believed to be £2.75million with potential add-ons.
McGinn’s former club, St Mirren, will receive a third of the fee as part of the deal that took the midfielder to Easter Road in 2015.
The 23-year-old said: “I’m proud to join a fantastic football club and I’m really looking forward to getting started. It’s been a crazy few days and I’m just glad to get it done.”
“I had the phone call on Monday night. I was wandering around the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and jumped on a flight and had a look about the place, met the manager and coaching staff and got a real good feeling about the place.
“I knew I would fit in, I knew this was the place I wanted to come. The one that got it for me was when I sat in the stand at Villa Park and I could picture myself playing there. It’s such a brilliant stadium and the fans are so passionate. It just felt right and I can’t wait to get my teeth into it.
“With new owners coming in, and the manager has a real vision for the club, and he sold it to me well.”
