OPINION
Tottenham Hotspur infamously did not make a single signing in this summer’s transfer window, but that wasn’t for a lack of trying in their pursuit of Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish.
However, chairman Daniel Levy was unable to get a deal done for the 23-year-old, and Grealish has now signed a new contract at Villa Park that reportedly includes a £45million release clause [Source: The Times].
And while it’s easy to criticise Levy for his inability to sign the midfielder when he had the chance, the club must now admit defeat and should not countenance reigniting a move for Grealish.
The Villa talisman is a wonderful talent, a player who is far too good for the level he’s currently playing at, but £45million is simply too much.
Even in today’s over-inflated market, £45million is a sum reserved for star players who come in and transform teams. Grealish, for all his attributes, is not that sort of player.
Would he even get in Tottenham’s starting line up? If so, over who? Christian Eriksen? Dele Alli? Lucas Moura? Son Heung-min?
The answer is no, those players are simply better than Grealish. Eriksen and Alli shoulder the majority of Spurs’s creative burden, and are key figures under Mauricio Pochettino.
Lucas and Son are the players who provide the width and goalscoring ability from midfield. Grealish plays a different role to those players so he wouldn’t displace them in the team either.
So £45million for a squad player is just ridiculous. Whether Spurs are still targeting the player or not is unknown, but it’s logical to expect their early season struggles to have only intensified their interest in a player they coveted throughout the summer.
Levy, a notoriously tough negotiator, should stick to the stance he maintained in the summer and refuse to overpay for the midfielder.
He is probably smarting from his failure to sign Grealish this summer, but he must make sure that doesn’t compel him to make an impulsive and overpriced move for the 23-year-old.
Tottenham need more strength in depth and more competition for places, but not at £45million a pop. Grealish is a fine midfielder, but Spurs should bid adieu to their interest in the player.