Aston Villa shock verdict issued as Tottenham linked to £50million-plus Jacob Ramsey deal after Newcastle approach
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium…
It would be “fantastic” to have Jacob Ramsey at Tottenham but a huge surprise if Aston Villa were willing to do business over him, according to Paul Robinson.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported on 29 January that Spurs had “made clear” they liked the midfielder and with his club facing Financial Fair Play pressures there was a feeling that offers of £50million and upwards would be considered.
Newcastle have had an approach rejected for the 22-year-old and although the “excellent” youngster would certainly fit under Ange Postecoglou at Spurs Robinson is convinced Villa will investigate numerous other avenues to relieve financial stresses before they part with Ramsey.
Homegrown players offer pure profit from an accounting perspective, hence why Tottenham have been linked to a move for Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher, but BBC Sport pundit Robinson would be shocked if Spurs could land Aston Villa’s poster boy for their academy system.
Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News he said: “Jacob Ramsey is an excellent player and I do think he’d be a good fit at Tottenham under Ange and the way that they play.
“But I’d be very, very surprised if Aston Villa did business with one of their own.
“He’s the flagship of what their academy’s all about. He’s a homegrown player whose played at England through every level. He’s a quality player that’s one of their own and come through the academy.
“We all know about Financial Fair Play and how selling a homegrown player obviously helps balance the books.
“But I suspect they would try a lot more things if they had to balance the books rather than sell a player like that who means so much to the club.
“It’s his club and he’s a quality player so they’d have to replace him and that would be difficult to do.
“From a Tottenham point of view, absolutely yes, it’d be fantastic to have him.
“But I find that a very difficult one to believe that Villa would come to the table and do business with the possibility of Champions League football next season, competing in Europe this season, and what they’ve got to offer him.
“I find that difficult. They’d try many, many other ways of balancing the books before that deal came to fruition.”
In other Tottenham news, a surprise departure to Manchester United could happen before the deadline because “everybody’s scared”.
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