Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt with a huge blow in their pursuit of Jack Grealish as Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce claims that they ‘nowhere near’ reaching the asking price for the attacking sensation.
As reported by Sky, the former Hull City manager stressed, “We all know what football is, but at the moment Spurs haven’t got anywhere near what the owners want to consider.”
This could be a huge blow for Spurs, who have been one of two Premier League clubs yet to sign a player in this summer transfer window. But here, we will discuss three alternatives the Lilywhites should target as we approach the final week before the window slams shut.
#3 Wilfried Zaha – Crystal Palace
Wilfried Zaha has one of the most talked about English players this summer. The former Manchester United starlet has been linked with a move away from Selhurst Park following his consistent performances in the past couple of seasons.
In fact, he had already attracted interest from the likes of Spurs, Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea amongst many others. But, the Eagles have remained adamant on keeping hold of their prized asset, as it seems.
That being said, it is believed that Zaha is still pushing for a move out of Palace, which would present Tottenham with a perfect opportunity to snap him up.
As mentioned earlier, the 25-year-old has been a consistent performer in the English top flight and could certainly strengthen Spurs’ attacking line in this new season. But, the Lilywhites will likely have to splurge a lot of money in order to acquire his services this summer.
#2 Leon Bailey – Bayer Leverkusen
Leon Bailey is a stunning alternative to Jack Grealish as far as quality is concerned. The Bayer Leverkusen wunderkind, who is one of the most promising talents playing in the Bundesliga, has shown incredible potential in the past 12 months.
Last season, in particular, the Jamaica starlet helped Leverkusen get back among the German elites by scoring nine goals and mustering six assists in just 30 appearances. However, Die Werkself could find it difficult to keep a hold of their prized asset with the player keen on playing in the Premier League.
As a result, a move away from the Bundesliga is very likely, thus paving the way for Spurs to make a move for this highly talented attacker.
The 20-year-old has the necessary pace and trickery to thrive in the English top flight and given Mauricio Pochettino’s proficiency in nurturing young talents, Bailey could be an ideal fit for the North London giants.
#1 Anthony Martial – Manchester United
Last but definitely not the least, Tottenham Hotspur should make an ambitious move for Anthony Martial, who is destined for a transfer away from Old Trafford this summer.
The Frenchman has struggled with lack of game time under Jose Mourinho, which has understandably left him frustrated. Reports have been rife regarding his potential move away from the club a host of top clubs around Europe reportedly keen on his services.
Even though latest rumours claim that the wantaway striker could, in fact, stay at United next season, there’s no doubt over the fact that a lucrative offer from Spurs, could make him think otherwise.
The Lilywhites could provide him with the opportunity of redeeming himself and most importantly, proving Mourinho wrong.
Thus, Martial is definitely a viable target for Spurs as they aim to pose a strong threat for the title next season.
Stat courtesy: Transfermarkt
