Aston Villa plan to step up new contract talks with Jack Grealish next week.
The Mirror says Grealish was pursued by Tottenham this summer but Villa refused to sell after the club's takeover last month.
Now boss Steve Bruce and the club's wealthy new ambitious owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens want to tie Grealish to a new deal.
Talks are expected to accelerate once the major leagues like Spain and Germany shut for transfer business this Friday August 31.
Grealish is unlikely to be risked tonight against League OneBurton in the EFL Cup after coming off at half-time against Reading on Saturday with a dead leg.
