Liverpool have joined Tottenham in the race to sign Aston Villa talisman Jack Grealish this summer, according to reports in the Sun. 

What's the story, then?

The Sun claim that Daniel Levy is trying to play hardball with Villa due to their poor financial situation and refusing to pay more than £20m for Grealish.

They say that the Reds are hoping to capitalise and sneak ahead in the race for the man that Mauricio Pochettino has made his top summer transfer target.

They report that Levy is not prepared to budge or up the ceiling of his bid and that could allow Jurgen Klopp to swoop in.

There is a clear role for Grealish at Liverpool

In Liverpool's 4-3-3 system, there is scope for a playmaker to come from deep, especially against deep defences that the Reds sometimes struggle against.

It is the role that Philippe Coutinho could have taken up on a regular basis but for his bumper January move to Barcelona and potentially where Nabil Fekir could have come in as well.

With Naby Keita and Fabinho behind, Grealish would be free to drive from deep. At Spurs, he could move into one of the attacking midfield slots but that is not the role in which he has undergone such stark improvement at Villa this year.

Playing in a deep role in a 4-2-3-1 doesn't suit Grealish in the same way so he may well be coming in as cover at Spurs, although in truth he would not be guaranteed starter at either club.