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Teenage winger Tyreik Wright can’t wait to get started after completing his move to Aston Villa.

You may not see Wright, 16, in Steve Bruce’s claret and blue first-team any time soon but he’s already catching the eye, particularly at international level.

He helped Ireland lift the Victory Shield in 2017 and has appeared at the Euro U17 Championships, too.

Wright, from County Cork, has left Lakewood to sign a scholarship with Villa until he is old enough to pen a professional deal.

He is being accommodated by a retired couple in Birmingham.

Ironically, it’s been reported that he turned down the advances of Blues, who were also interested in him, to agree the move to Villa.

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A clearly delighted Wright spoke of his pride in signing for Villa and outlined his long-term ambition.

“It’s crazy, to be honest,” Wright told the Irish Examiner.

“I knew from the age of 12 or 13 that this is what I wanted to do, but playing Sunday football with my local club, Lakewood, over the years, I didn’t really think I’d be where I am today.

“Getting trialled with Aston Villa was probably the best moment of my life. That is until I was offered the contract.

“I hope to push on now and get into the first team within my first year. But my dream is to play in the Premier League.”

Initiation time

Gruelling fitness workouts helped Villa's squad shake off the summer cobwebs over in Portugal this week.

A number of youngsters travelled with the first-team to train with the group at the warm-weather camp.

And for some, there were added events on the agenda.

As with any 'away' trip, newcomers need to settle into their new surroundings and complete an initiation song as part of a long-standing football tradition.

Easah Suliman, the young centre half who helped England U19s to European Championships glory last summer, was filmed completing his.

But the reaction from his onlooking team-mates was one of disappointment.

Suliman chose 'I Believe I Can Fly' by R-Kelly but didn't last very long and was booed off.

Team-mate, Keinan Davis filmed his efforts, and jeers were heard at the end.

No doubt Suliman would have taken plenty of positives from his time in Portugal, though, as he aims to impress boss Steve Bruce this season.

Spaces in the heart of defence could become available following the departure of John Terry and the continued interest in James Chester.

It's understood that Mile Jedinak will be used as a centre-half more often next term, but he won't return until later this month following his World Cup duties.

Suliman could, therefore, find himself closer to the first-team in times ahead, even if it's only as a back-up.

Bruce will use him in some of the pre-season friendlies which get underway at Kidderminster and Telford tomorrow.

Grealish

The Jack Grealish transfer saga could be over in less than a fortnight, according to reports in London.

Grealish, Aston Villa's prize asset, is a leading transfer target for Tottenham Hotspur who want to add young, English talent to their ranks ahead of the new season.

Spurs' must adhere to homegrown rules for their Champions League squad and will look to recruit domestically in the transfer market.

Their recruitment plans are likely to be stepped up in the coming weeks - and football.london report that Spurs hope to strike a deal for Grealish before their upcoming tour of the USA.

Mauricio Pochettino's side jet off across the Atlantic for their pre-season trip on July 25 and want Grealish to be part of the travelling squad.

BirminghamLive understands that a deal for Grealish will be finalised once the two clubs agree on a fee.

The 21-year-old is currently on Villa's training camp in Portugal but is aware of the interest in him.

The north London outfit are the clear favourites to sign him this summer and are now the only seriously-interested club.

But Villa are still waiting for a formal offer as Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy continues to sit back in the hope of landing Grealish on the cheap.

Villa value their star man at £30million - but Spurs are ready to pitch in at around half that price.

Grealish has continued to stay in shape this summer ahead of a crunch season for his own personal development.

He finished the last campaign as the best-performing player in the Championship which alerted Pochettino to his qualities.

The Spurs boss regularly sent representatives to watch Josh Onomah - who was on loan at Villa - but it was the rave reviews for Grealish that really caught his attention.

The ex-England U21 ace has remained out of the spotlight since the play-off final heartache on May 26 - and may well have played his last game in Villa colours.