Aston Villa star Jack Grealish has put pen to paper on a new five-year contract, as reported by Sky Sports.
The 23-year-old was the subject of intense speculation throughout the summer, with Tottenham Hotspur’s relentless pursuit leading to a £25m bid for the winger.
Villa, however, fought tooth and nail to keep hold of their most valuable asset and the former England youth international has now agreed fresh terms with the Midlands club.
Contract talks were reportedly opened with Grealish on Deadline Day and negotiations have now been completed.
The club expressed their delight at retaining the services of their talisman and CEO Christian Purslow had this to say:
“Securing the long-term future of Jack, a player we believe will play a pivotal role in leading Aston Villa back to where it belongs, is fantastic news for everybody associated with our football club.
“He is a tremendous talent who has been with us since he was a child and naturally we are delighted that he has now committed the next five years of his career to Aston Villa.”
The new deal may provide the club with the boost they need after a difficult start to the campaign. After being hotly tipped for promotion during the summer, Villa have underwhelmed and lie 13th in the league table. They slipped to a 2-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, adding to the mounting pressure on Steve Bruce. The under-fire manager had this to say when quizzed about the pressure he faces:
“When you’re managing a club like this you’re always under pressure. I still think the people who can’t afford to pay the bills are under more pressure.
“I’ve been in it a long, long time. In some people’s eyes, I’ll never win them over, I understand that.
“But I don’t want it transcending into the team and making them edgy, because it doesn’t become very healthy.”
Villa will lock horns with Bristol City on Friday night and Bruce will be desperate to see his side return to winning ways to help silence the speculation regarding his potential dismissal.
