A host of clubs are gearing up to battle for the signature of Aston Villa starlet Jack Grealish.

The 22-year-old has come off a superb season for Villa, which saw them fail to make the Premier League having lost in the Championship play-off final.

The attacking midfielder won many plaudits and also glances from clubs across the Premier League and beyond.

Tottenham have emerged as favourites, but I understand that nearly half the Premier League are keen on Grealish – who is also attracting attention from Europe.

Sources have told me that Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid and Monaco are all keeping tabs on the English Under-21 international.

Villa would love to keep Grealish, but they appear to have little option but to sell him with the club now facing a financial crisis after failing to land promotion and their parachute payments down to just £15million following their Premier League relegation in 2016.

The club have already had to release high earning captain John Terry, and now they are set to sell Grealish.

Whilst Spurs are keen, they are not the only interested party, with Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea also keeping tabs, and I understand a number of the teams – including Chelsea – would be prepared to loan him back to Villa for at least one season.

Leicester, Wolves, Fulham, West Ham and Newcastle are also keen on Grealish – who himself is more than happy with life at his hometown club, but understands that the club’s financial situation could mean that he has to leave.

Bookmakers make Spurs favourites with BetVictor listing them at Evens ahead of Leicester and Chelsea.

BetVictor’s Head of ante post Football Michael Triffitt commented: “Tottenham remain even money favourites to capture midfielder Jack Grealish from money stricken championship outfit Aston Villa but London rivals Chelsea have been introduced as they look to persuade the player a move to Stamford Bridge would be in the players long term best interests. Midlands rivals Leicester have also shown considerable interest and remain a solid 7/4 second favourite with Villa desperate for the move to see a welcome injection of funds.”