Aston Villa vow to keep star names Grealish and Kodjia

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Aston Villa chief executive Keith Wyness has insisted the club are under no pressure to sell their star assets in Jack Grealish and Jonathan Kodjia. 

The club failed to clinch an immediate return to the Premier League and finished 13th in the Sky Bet Championship this season.

Kodjia scored 19 goals after a £15million move from Bristol City last summer but his season ended early last month after he broke his ankle at Blackburn.

Academy product Grealish is expected to be included in England Under-21s squad for Euro 2017 in Poland this summer and netted five times this term.

But, despite missing out on promotion, Wyness believes the pair will be at the club next season to help Villa launch their bid for a top flight return.

Asked if Villa wanted to sell Kodjia, he said: “No. If something comes in which is a ridiculous amount then of course (it’s possible) but there have been no bids, no conversations. Given his injury I’d be very surprised if someone takes a chance at that.

“There is no intention or discussion about selling Jack. However, everybody is for sale at the right price – if Real Madrid want him….but there is no discussion.

“This is a big season for Jack, never mind for Villa. This is a key season for Jack, Steve (Bruce, Villa’s manager) has made that clear and he has been told. There are a number of players this is a key season for.

“There is going to be some pressure on. We will make sure we are equipped and we are really going to do this right. We have done the whole root-and-branch side of the football operation which means they have a better support system than they have ever had.”

Kodjia is expected to miss the start of next season with his ankle break while Bruce is aiming to rebuild his squad after replacing Roberto Di Matteo in October.