Tottenham have reportedly noticed that an ATM offer for Jacob Ramsey was rejected by Aston Villa, and Unai Emery decided to keep the 23-year-old.
Ange Postecoglou sees the Villa star as a key target to bring reinforcements in the attacking midfield and in winger positions.
Ramsey can play either role and, after some impressive seasons with the Midlands club, he only gets better as he gains experience.
Suffering injuries last season, Emery sees him as a key player as the coach prepares for Villa’s first European crusade since 2010/11.
According to talkSPORT, Tottenham “were willing to pay £20m plus midfielder Giovani Lo Celso” for Ramsey, but Villa “rejected the offer”. This despite the fact that Emery has controlled the Spurs star at Paris Saint-Germain and Villareal.
Lo Celso, 28, has been at Tottenham since 2020 and has made 108 appearances for the club, but has been falling down the pecking order over the seasons.
He was on loan at Villarreal during the second half of the 2021/22 season and the 2022/23 campaign.
He only has 12 months left on his contract and Spurs need to get rid of him now than lose him in a loose move later.
Aston Villa are tough on getting deals and appear to have placed themselves to the right of the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
Maintaining control over his key players has been a challenge and Emery sees Ramsey as someone in that category.
Tottenham may still be trying to steer him away from Villa Park, while Liverpool and Newcastle are also interested in the flexible playmaker.
Ramsey broke into the Villa team in 2020 and made 122 appearances in total for his boyhood club, scoring thirteen goals and providing 12 assists.
Tottenham could have to look for reinforcements if Villa maintains their no-sell stance.
Spurs have already signed Timo Werner to a one-year deal from RB Leipzig and agreed an £8. 5m contract for midfielder Lucas Bergvall from Djurgarden.
However, they have a lot of work to do ahead of next season, and Postecoglou is keen to sign a new striker.
Brentford star Ivan Toney remains connected to the north Londoners, although he is the only centre-forward on Postecoglou’s shortlist.