Scout Report: How Jack Grealish fits into Pochettino’s plans at Tottenham
With Aston Villa in immediate need for a financial boost and in a position in which they may have to sell their prized assets at cut prices, it’s perhaps little surprise that Daniel Levy is sniffing around.
The Tottenham chairman is renowned for driving a hard bargain in the transfer market and seems keen to benefit from Villa’s weakened position regarding star man and favourite son Jack Grealish.
The Londoners have emerged as the significant front runners to secure the services of the young England hopeful, and it is reported that a deal will go through once a fee has been agreed between the clubs.
Given Levy’s involvement, not to mention the uncertainty at board level at Villa Park, that might not be achieved for some time. It is thought that Spurs are aiming to get their man for around £20m, while the Championship outfit are hopeful for a fee closer to £30m.
A deal may well be struck between those two values, and while prices in the game are constantly on the rise, it would represent a significant outlay from Tottenham for a player that would, initially at least, play a bit part role.
With enviable options in the form of Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen in an advanced position ahead of the midfield, there’s a chance that Mauricio Pochettino - who promotes young English talent - has another role in mind for Grealish.
Whilst operating in a different formation for his boyhood club last season, the 22-year-old was handed a slightly deeper role than he was accustomed to in order to get him on the ball as much as possible. Operating in the centre of a midfield four, albeit with the license to bomb forwards, Grealish excelled.
His figure for passes per 90 minutes rose dramatically from 35.9 to 54.4, and so too did his key passes - 1.3 to 2.5 - and dribbles - 1.6 to 3.8. Physically he developed a great deal too, enabling him to hold off challenges and navigate tight situations, and in that regard he may well offer a more forward thinking alternative to the seemingly outbound Mouse Dembele.
Grealish, however, still maintains that his favoured position is off the left, where he can cut infield onto his favoured boot, so while many would see his arrival at Spurs as a threat to Dele Alli’s position, the England U21 international’s new found versatility would be a real asset.
This ability to play in three or four different roles will have attracted Pochettino’s interest, with the games set to come thick and first for the club once more next season.
His improved fitness levels would be put to the test but Grealish’s maturation over the last 18 months and dedication in the gym should enable him to adapt quite quickly, as well as the ease with which he keeps possession in the final third and his exceptional weight of pass. Both are traits that Alli perhaps lacks, losing the ball far more frequently.
With that in mind, while many may think that Tottenham is, for the time being, a step too far for the Villa man, who would be better served seeking more immediate first team action, Grealish could yet be a crucial player to the club in the years to come. If they can agree a fee anywhere near the £20m mark that is being reported, it would be another superb piece of business for the Levy logbook.
