Report: Aston Villa star could be set for surprise Premier League switch

Aston Villa’s young talent Jack Grealish has emerged as a shock transfer target for Premier League side Middlesbrough.

According to the Daily Mail, the 21-year-old is attracting interest from the Boro, who are expected to lose Gaston Ramirez this month.

The Boro have reportedly turned down a £12 million bid from Leicester for Ramirez and are holding out for £15 million. Mail speculates that Boro manager Aitor Karanka believes that Grealish would work as a like-for-like replacement for Ramirez.

Both clubs have done a lot of business in recent transfer windows, and if Villa are willing to do business, then a deal wouldn’t be hard to reach.

Grealish is a product of Villa academy and broke into senior squad during the club’s 2015 FA Cup run. Following a sudden rise in his fame, he ran into troubles on multiple occasions, but he has seemed to control his act in the recent months. He committed his long-term future to Villa by signing a new four-year deal in September.

This season, he has made 21 league appearances for the Midlands club.