Tottenham failed with a bid to sign Aston Villa star Jack Grealish on the final day of the summer transfer window in 2018, as the two clubs failed to agree a price.
Villa rejected a £25million bid for their talisman, who was said to be "disappointed and disillusioned" at the move not materialising in what could prove to be somewhat of a sliding doors moment for the player and the clubs.
Three years later, Grealish remains at Villa - establishing their top-flight status and blossoming into one of the Premier League ’s star players and for England, with Spurs left to rue what might have been.
Tottenham are now close to a deal to sign Sevilla winger Bryan Gil - one of the brightest talents in Spanish football whose playing style is a throwback to a period where playmakers ruled - with significant comparisons to Grealish.
Gil has been a standout player in La Liga following a series of dazzling displays and inventive wing-play, with his style of play opening up opposition defences and exciting fans.
Born in Catalonia, Gil’s family moved to Andalusia the south of Spain when he was a young child and his talent was always obvious - quickly rising through the local leagues before being signed by Sevilla, aged 11.
Gil made his senior debut aged just 17, having starred for Sevilla’s B side in Spain’s regionalised third tier in the 2018/19 campaign.
He made a string of impressive displays as a substitute for the first-team including in a home game against Eibar, where he was introduced to the game in the 74 th minute with his side trailing by two goals.
Gil’s introduction changed the game: he demanded the ball, took on tiring defenders and left them bamboozled - drawing them out of their shape and finding space for others. Sevilla scored twice late on to rescue a draw.
Such was the winger’s promise, Sevilla ensured that he was not called up to Spain’s Under-19 squad so that he could develop at the club and was included in matchday squads for Europa League knockout ties.
Gil is a true throwback to another era; his expression on the ball and willingness to take risks - this is not a player who tries to find space but one who actively avoids it, he wants to draw opposition players towards him and beat them with trickery and flair.
Its not just the Spaniard’s playing style that feels nostalgic but also his hairstyle; Gil’s flowing locks and Beatle-esque hairline truly feels more at home in the 1970s than the current day, with the comparisons to the great George Best obvious.
The summer of 2019 proved somewhat of a turning point for Gil as Julen Lopetegui was appointed as the club’s new boss and did not believe the winger was suited to his playing style.
Lopetegui - formerly of Spain and Real Madrid - is obsessed by his system, by every player being coached into precisely what he wants them to do and anyone who does not buy into this ethic is moved on.
Gil is somewhat of a maverick - a player who will light up games and take fans off their seats, but also one who remains a raw diamond, whose focus is on his supreme natural talent rather than concentrating on maintaining a team’s intensity in pressing and shape off the ball.
He spent the 2019/20 campaign on loan at Leganes in La Liga but truly came to prominence the following season, when he starred for Eibar.
In both seasons, Gil was unable to help those sides avoid relegation from the top flight - drawing similarities to Grealish’s relegation with Villa from the Premier League in 2016 - but last year he began to show the consistency and regularity of displays that truly caught the eye.
Gil’s versatility was outlined at the Basque club, as detailed by the performance-analyst website Whoscored he started in six different positions last season.
Of his starts, 17 came on the left side of an attacking system, six on the right and two in a ‘number 10’ central role - which was the position in which he impressed the most.
This again bears similarities to the Villa playmaker, who is most comfortable cutting in from the left-side of an attacking position but is equally comfortable in a central position.
Gil’s value exploded last season, with Transfermarkt ranking his value as increasing from £8.1million in October last year to £27million by the end of the season. Whilst those values can fluctuate and are no scientific measure, the fact that the valuation has more than trebled helps explain the imminent move to Spurs.
Sevilla are happy to cash-in on a player whose value is higher than ever but who will not command a place in Lopetegui’s first-team - successive top-four finishes and the Europa League title last year ensures the coach’s position at the club and his authority are absolute.
Gil was the first ever player to represent Eibar who was called up to the Spanish national squad in March, leading to an emotional reaction and highlighting his rise to stardom.
The winger made his international debut against Greece in March before being handed a start against Georgia three days later.
Gil has since earned a third cap - playing for the de facto Under-21 side who faced Lithuania last month as the entire senior squad were quarantined due to Covid.
As reported by Italian transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Spurs are close to signing Gil in a deal that will include Erik Lamela going the other way.
Spurs will also pay the Spanish club a total of €25million (£21.6million) alongside add-ons to sign the winger, who is now aged 20 and is destined to continue to improve.
Gil is a potential star in the making and is widely regarded in Spain as the brightest star outside of Barcelona and Real Madrid, with a ceiling of greatest - which may or may not be realised.
As detailed by statistical analysis site Fbref, Gil sits just outside the top 10 percent of wingers for ‘progressive carries’ and ‘dribbles completed’ across Europe’s top leagues, whilst also impressing in ‘shot creating actions’ - highlighting how this is a player who makes things happen, who opens up games and loves to take a risk.
It is easy to forget how close Spurs were to landing Grealish and whilst Gil is not yet at the England international’s level, he is five years younger and two years younger than the time of that proposed move in 2018.
There is a sense of frustration among Sevilla fans that this deal may be short-sighted on their part, but they will receive a significant transfer fee and a starting-standard player for a winger who had no guarantee of playing time next season.
Gil’s contract in the Andalusian capital is due to expire in two years and a renewed contract in these circumstances with uncertainty over playing time could have proved complicated.
This deal appears to make sense for the Spanish club, for the player and for Spurs - who will receive a player of game-changing ability and whose value could, if utilised correctly, continue to soar.
The Spaniard stands out due to his playing style and his haircut, his wand of a left foot, his impact from the bench and his self-confidence and expression, just as the playmaker whom Spurs missed out on three years ago did.
Gil has scored just six goals and provided only four assists in 54 La Liga appearances - he must improve his end product and the physicality of the Premier League may prove a huge step in his development, but the raw abilities and self-belief to improve are in place.
As with the failed move for Grealish three years ago, this deal carries elements of risk but the opportunity to sign a potential superstar significantly outweighs them.
Dhairyag78
533
saw him play for eibar last season, he was amazing. Wish him good luck for his future 😇