Aston Villa transfer news: Steve Bruce admits Jack Grealish MUST be sold this summer, with Tottenham leading the chase
The 22-year-old has been a star over the past three years for the Villans, but Financial Fair Play restrictions means they must sell
Jack Grealish will be sold by Aston Villa in this summer transfer window, the club's manager Steve Bruce has confirmed.
After failing to gain promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs last season, the Villans were crippled by Financial Fair Play regulations and are battling to stay afloat.
The Midlands club have little choice now but to sell their prized assets - with Grealish leading the way.
With nearly £40million needing to be raised, Bruce admitted he just hoped clubs act fast so the club can move on.
“The first thing we have to address, before we go into anything, is Financial Fair Play,” Bruce told .
“That has to be addressed whether the owner has got any money or not. We have to try and put that in place as quickly as we can.
“The owner has put out a statement. I had a conversation with him four or five days ago where I issued my commitment to the club and to him to say, ‘Look, we’re up against it, let’s be open and honest’.
“We might have to take decisions which aren’t going to be easy. We will have to generate some money and inevitably that’s going to be through player sales.
"And it’s going to be people who I don’t want to sell. The obvious one is Jack. People will know we’ve got financial problems and they’ll sit and wait until deadline day possibly, I hope that doesn’t happen but we’ve got to wait for it.”
After dazzling in the second half of the season, local lad Grealish and his Villa teammates fell agonizingly short of the Premier League after defeat at Wembley to Fulham.
And, although his value will have certainly sky-rocketed, Bruce is all too aware they are in no position to be demanding the full-price.
According to the Birmingham Mail, Spurs are hoping to land the Solihull-born star for just £15 million, and Bruce admits he will be sad to see him leave.
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“It’s pretty brutal stuff out there,” Bruce continued. “There’s nobody going to feel sorry for Aston Villa because financially we’ve got ourselves into a bit of a pickle. Yes, we’ve got to be ready for that.
“I’ve enjoyed working with Jack. Jack is the obvious one that clubs are going to look at because he had a wonderful six months.
“He reminded everyone what a very good player he is at 22 years old. On another day at Wembley he could have scored one of the great goals.
“He’s a special talent. Yes, you don’t want to lose him but the inevitable thing is, we have to.
“We have to keep the club up and running and keep it in line with Financial Fair Play.”