By Graham Hill
VILLA have put a £60MILLION buyout clause in Jack Grealish’s contract.
If Dean Smith’s side fail to win promotion through the play-offs this month, then Villa are likely to lose Grealish to the Premier League with Tottenham leading the way.
A report by Neil Moxley in today’s Sunday People reveals the eye watering figures involved.
Spurs failed to get Grealish for a knockdown price last summer when Villa were saved from going into administration by Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris’ buyout.
That meant that they could hold on to Grealish who has ambitions of playing in the top flight again – and boosting his chances of an England call-up.
Spurs could have had Grealish for £25million with Villa desperate to sell to stave off their financial problems.
But the new owners refused to let Grealish leave and handed him a new £70,000 a week deal.
And now any interested clubs will have to cough up an enormous sum of money just to talk to Villa about losing their skipper.
It had been thought the clause was between £30-45million – but it is now revealed to be way in excess of that.
Grealish has been the catalyst for Villa’s late promotion bid and have not lost since he returned from a three month spell out with a shin injury.
He has missed one game but the run has included 10 successive wins and a draw last week in a controversial game at Leeds.
But it is accepted that Grealish will have to go if Villa fail in the play-offs for the second year running.
The club still have FFP rules to adhere to. But the cash raised from the sale of Grealish would help boss Smith rebuild. But Grealish has already said this week that he feels that this is ‘Villa’s year’.
Villa Roar 