Manchester United will have to fork out a fortune to sign Jack Grealish this summer.
The Aston Villa captain has emerged as a transfer target for United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who wants to add more creativity to his squad.
At 24, England hopeful Grealish - who has contributed to 13 goals in 26 Premier League appearances this season - appears to fit the bill.
Villa won’t be willing to let Grealish leave on the cheap though and are likely to play hard-ball, just as Crystal Palace, Leicester and Sporting did over Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes respectively.
With that in mind, here are some playmakers who are likely to be available for less than the reported £60 million Villa could demand for Grealish.
Harvey Barnes
Like Grealish, Barnes has tended to operate from the left for Leicester this season, but he can also thrive more centrally.
Barnes, who is two years Grealish’s junior, boasts similar statistics in the Premier League this season and recently overshadowed the Villa man in Leicester’s 4-0 victory at the King Power.
For now Barnes is still living in the shadows of James Maddison - another player linked with United - but he’s been the Foxes’ most potent attacking player since the turn of the year.
Dwight McNeil
It’s impossible to know whether releasing an under-14 will come back to bite you but that’s exactly what McNeil has done to United.
McNeil, a United fan growing up, was with the academy alongside Brandon Williams and Mason Greenwood through school before being released. He’s bounced back in some style though.
McNeil has been a regular in the Premier League for two seasons now and his performances for Burnley in recent months have been outstanding.
Clubs are queuing up to sign the 20-year-old who is comfortable out on the left or in central midfield.
Ebere Eze
QPR’s Eze is a supreme talent who has come of age in the Championship this season.
The 21-year-old’s skill and technique has been on display for three seasons at Loftus Road now, but he’s only just beginning to get the attention he truly deserves.
Eze has 20 goal contributions in 37 league games for QPR this term and looks certain to be playing Premier League football next season.
As Grealish has shown, sometimes players don’t need time to adapt to the top flight.
Houssem Aouar
Aouar’s showings for Lyon have seen him attract admiring glances from the Premier League with Liverpool and Arsenal reportedly interested in signing him. He’s also been linked with Juventus and Real Madrid.
With six goals in 29 domestic games for Lyon this season Aouar’s statistics stack up against the others on this list.
Aouar has craft and class in abundance and the Lyon number eight also possesses a good turn of speed.
Christopher Nkunku
RB Leipzig star Nkunku has caught the eye with his performances in the Bundesliga and the Champions League.
Nkunku’s 12 assists in 23 Bundesliga matches this campaign is bettered in Germany only by Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller (16) and United target Jadon Sancho (15).
The Frenchman has played wide and even in attack this season but his best performances for Leipzig have come in midfield.
