OPINION
Liverpool and Tottenham were left battling it out side by side in their hunt for top-four finish in the Premier League last season and it looks as though their rivalry is set to spread to the transfer window.
Spurs came out on top over the Reds, finishing third in the top flight, but Jurgen Klopp’s men are reportedly looking at hijacking their hunt for Aston Villa’s midfield maestro Jack Grealish.
The Mirror state that Villa have slashed their asking price for the 22-year-old from £40million to £20million, and that the Anfield outfit have been in contact after Mauricio Pochettino’s side tabled a £15million offer for his capture.
If Villa have indeed cut the fee slapped on Grealish’s head, then splashing out that extra £5million to smash Liverpool aside and snap up his signing is a no-brainer.
He is destined for Premier League success, there is little doubt of that, and in today’s transfer market £20million for a proven talent with yet more potential is the expected, or even potentially less, than the going rate.
Spurs might already have a host of talent in a similar role, but there is no harm in having another, and after Pochettino was left forced to leave out some of his stars from their Champions League squad due to homegrown talent rules, Grealish would help hit the quota.
Liverpool will pose a threat to their chances of signing him up, and if both clubs table similar offers it could come down to personal preference, but with Tottenham said to be leading the way, they must take advantage and snap him up – or face the consequences of a Reds side with him dazzling on Merseyside.