Liverpool enter Jack Grealish race as Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy haggles Aston Villa over fee
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has made Grealish his number one target this summer but Levy is refusing to pay more than £20million and Liverpool hope to take advantage of situation
LIVERPOOL hope to snatch Jack Grealish from Aston Villa while Tottenham argue over a fee for the midfielder.
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has made England under-21 star Grealish his number one transfer target during the transfer window.
Pochettino believes Grealish could have a similar inspirational impact to the Tottenham side as Paul Gascoigne did when he moved to White Hart Lane from Newcastle in 1988.
But the Argentinian faces missing out on his priority signing because chairman Daniel Levy is attempting to force Villa to accept a cut-price £20million bid.
Cash-strapped Villa, who are facing huge financial problems having failed to gain promotion back to the Premier League, value the 22-year-old at £40m.
But Levy is attempting to use the Championship club's precarious plight as leverage to drive down the transfer fee.
The notoriously tough negotiator has set £20m as his maximum offer and is holding firm, confident Grealish wants to make the move to North London.
And with the only other interested clubs until now being Leicester and Everton, Spurs were in a powerful position in the haggling.
But Sunsport understands Liverpool have now registered their interest with Villa - changing the complexion of the transfer completely.
They too can dangle the carrot of working under a charismatic manager in an evolving team who are fighting for honours at the top end of the Premier League.
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Jurgen Klopp's side also have Champions League football to sell to Grealish, something Leicester and Everton were unable to do.
Spurs now face genuine competition for the services of the Villa star, who is tipped to force his way into the England squad over the coming year.
And Liverpool are understood to be willing to pay more than the £20m Spurs have tabled to bring in the midfielder.
Klopp is attempting to build a squad capable of a dual challenge for the Premier League title and in Europe next season, and Grealish would be a natural fit in his plans.