MANCHESTER UNITED could still be forced into forking out £80million for Jack Grealish even if Aston Villa are relegated, according to reports.
The Red Devils are long-term admirers of the Englishman, 24, and have placed him high on their transfer wish list.
But according to the Daily Mail, it is thought the Midlands side will not drop their valuation of their star man, regardless of which division they will be playing in next season.
Villa go into the Premier League restart 19th in the Premier League, two points adrift of safety.
And Dean Smith will be desperate to have his captain firing on all cylinders from the outset with ten games to secure survival.
Grealish has three years left on his current deal at Villa Park and has been the club’s standout player in their first season back in the Premier League with seven goals and six assists.
There have been figures of anything between £50million and £80m suggested for Grealish, but it was initially thought relegation for Villa would lower the club’s asking price.
The midfielder is almost certain to leave should Villa go down as he will surely look to push on in his career rather than spend another year in the Championship with his boyhood side.
But if Smith can keep the team up, Villa’s owners, Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, reckon they will be able to afford to reject any big offers for Grealish.
Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has already warned supporters not to expect big transfer fees this summer.
The financial impact of coronavirus is still unclear so it is unlikely United will splash out in excess of £100m for Jadon Sancho or almost £200m on Harry Kane, for example.
And that could mean an £80m fee for Grealish is also unfeasible.
The Old Trafford club are thought to have made Grealish the No1 priority going into the summer transfer market, ahead of Leicester’s James Maddison.
That is despite Grealish breaking lockdown rules in late March – just hours after telling followers to stay home.
He crashed his Range Rover into parked cars before pictures emerged of the playmaker wearing one slipper and one slide-on sandal at the scene.
Smith addressed the issue ahead of the first Premier League game back, at home to Sheffield United, and said he had words with his captain, who was also fined.
Manager Smith said: “I was disappointed. He made a mistake, he has been reprimanded and he will have learned from the mistake as well.
“I spoke to him at the time. I was disappointed with him but I was also disappointed for him.
“But the character of Jack is to learn from this mistake. And he will be a better player and a better person for it.”
However, Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is also very keen on Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz and would be willing to go all out for his signature if a deal was possible.
The Red Devils, though, face plenty of competition for the German sensation from their Premier League rivals as well as Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
