Manchester City have been linked with a summer move for Aston Villa star Jack Grealish recently and the England international could be a superb addition to Pep Guardiola’s squad.
What’s the word?
According to the Daily Mail, City are now favourites to sign the 25-year-old this summer, having stolen the march on Manchester United, who failed to stump up the cash to sign him from the Villans last summer.
Grealish signed a new five-year contract with Dean Smith’s side on the eve of the 2020/21 campaign but his superb performances this season mean it is perhaps likely he will depart this summer, although it is suggested that Villa value him at £100m.
Would he be a good signing for City?
Grealish has been one of the star performers in the Premier League so far this season, with his 7.73 average rating from WhoScored second to only Harry Kane out of all the players in the top flight.
The attacking midfielder has contributed an impressive six goals and 10 assists in 22 appearances for the Villans this season, helping to transform them from relegation candidates last season to European hopefuls this campaign.
WhoScored also suggests that the Englishman’s key strengths include his dribbling and passing ability, which immediately marks him out as having the techincal ability to be part of Guardiola’s side.
Grealish has featured mainly as a left winger in Villa’s side this season but is able to drift inside and influence the play in a similar mould to Bernardo Silva on the opposite flank at City.
Considering his excellent returns for Villa this season, you feel that playing under Guardiola and alongside some truly world-class players could help the 25-year-old reach a new level in terms of goals, assists and general all-round play.
Although City’s focus for the summer seems to be on bringing a world-class striker such as Erling Haaland to the Etihad Stadium, perhaps they should focus on an “outstanding” player (in the words of Gareth Southgate) who is at his peak and has already cut it in the Premier League, as Grealish has shown enough in recent seasons to prove that he could make it at a top club such as City.
Therefore, sporting director Txiki Begiristain should definitely consider trying to bring Grealish to Manchester this summer, as he could develop into a world-class player in Guardiola’s side.
In other news… Txiki may be regretting £25m City decision with “phenomenal” beast