Paper round-up: Levy ‘has come a cropper’ over Grealish

Aston Villa’s new owners will not sell Jack Grealish to Tottenham, the Sunday Mirror say.

Spurs had been tipped to sign Grealish, who was expected to leave the Championship club when they were in financial trouble.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy was reported to be haggling over a fee for Grealish, believing that Spurs could take advantage of the financial problems Villa were facing.

There has since been a major investment in Villa by Egyptian billionaire Nassef Sawaris and American Wes Edens, leading the Sunday Mirror to declare that Levy “has come a cropper” and that his haggling “has blown up in his face.”

A ‘Villa source’ is quoted as saying: “Spurs could have pushed the button on this two weeks ago before the takeover. They didn’t. And now the owners have said that neither he, nor James Chester is going anywhere.

“They want to build Villa. That’s not going to happen by selling the club’s best players.”

Meanwhile, Arsenal, Crystal Palace and West Ham are among clubs interested in Gillingham’s giant goalkeeper Tomas Holy, the Sunday Mirror say.

Everton and Championship clubs West Brom and Middlesbrough are also said to be interested in the 6ft 9in Czech.

Holy, 26, has impressed in League One since being released by Sparta Prague and has therefore been linked with a move.

The Mail on Sunday say Chelsea are ready to offer Arsenal £30m for Aaron Ramsey.

The Sunday Mirror claim Chelsea have moved ahead of AC Milan a race to sign Gonzalo Higuain after offering the Juventus striker a £120,000-a-week contract and that the Blues are set to sell Danny Drinkwater. 

Real Madrid have ended their interest in Eden Hazard but will move for his Chelsea team-mate Thibaut Courtois, according to The Sun on Sunday.

And Swansea have told Fulham that defender Alfie Mawson would cost them £25m, the Mail on Sunday say.