Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce has revealed that midfielder Jack Grealish would have been a Tottenham player, if the north London side came in for the 22-year-old earlier in the transfer window, talkSPORT report.
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino was keen on bringing Grealish to the Premier League this summer and Spurs officials were hoping to sign the highly rated youngster on the cheap due to Villa’s financial problems.
However, due to Villa’s takeover from an American financer and Egyptian billionaire, Bruce and Villa were again in control of Grealish’s destiny and decided to keep the player at Villa Park, despite strong interest and a £30 million offer from Tottenham towards the end of the window.
Talking to talkSPORT, Bruce admitted that if Spurs came in at the start of the window for the player, they would’ve got their man.
It’s fair to say we were in such a bad position financially that if Tottenham had have done their work early, then I’m sure he would have been a Tottenham player.
Before the takeover came in, everyone was for sale – that’s how difficult the situation was.
Bruce also revealed that Grealish is set to be offered a new and improved contract with the club, which would make a ‘statement’ on his future.
Jack will certainly will be in line for a new deal. The new owners have said that and I think they want to make a statement on it.
