In a recent interview with Football Insider, former Sunderland striker Darren Bent reckons Manchester City as one of the potential destinations for Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish when he said, “I think Jack Grealish has got his sights set on maybe three teams.
“I would say probably Manchester United, Manchester City, and potentially maybe Spurs.
“I think they’re the three that are looking at him, and he’s eyeing them thinking ‘I’d like to go to one of them’.
“I’d probably put Man United at the very, very top of that. If that doesn’t happen and Villa go down, you never know, but for me, he’s got his eye on them.”
Grealish has made the headlines for all the wrong reasons recently following his involvement in a car accident. He has been investigated for crashing his car just hours after his message to Villa fans to abide by the UK Government’s lockdown guidelines by staying at home because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This recent development might even hamper his chances to seal a dream move to a top club this summer due to concerns over his conduct.
Grealish Has Been A Breath Of Fresh Air At Villa Park This Season
Despite his recent antics off the field, the English midfielder deserves a lot of credit for his run of consistency for the Villans this season. The 24-year-old enjoyed a terrific campaign at the West Midlands so far after performing at a high level for Dean Smith’s side before the Premier League season came to an unexpected halt as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grealish has banged in nine goals and grabbed eight assists in 31 matches for his boyhood club this term in all competitions which goes to show how productive he has been in the offensive end of the pitch. He has averaged 2.1 shots, 2.7 key passes and 2.2 dribbles in every 90 minutes of top-flight football this season (stats via whoscored). His numbers this season has been nothing short of sensational which explains why so many high-profile clubs including Man City are being tipped to land him this summer.
Even though the Villans skipper has matured a lot as a playmaker over the past 18 months, he is yet to make his international debut for Gareth Southgate’s England national team. However, if Grealish can maintain his high standards going forward next season, then we can expect him to be involved in the Three Lions squad that would participate in the UEFA European Championship which will now take place in the summer of 2021.
What Will The English Sensation Add To Pep’s Side?
Grealish can put his pace and agility to good use when travelling with the ball and making breakaway runs in the opposition half. He shows outstanding balance and ball-control when in possession of the ball and is not shy of setting up his teammates when they are in space in the final third. The Aston Villa captain has also proven his worth as a prolific goal-scorer from midfield which has enhanced his reputation in English football.
The England Under-21 international can pass the ball accurately as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 84.4% in the Premier League this season (stats via whoscored). He has the skillset to become one of England’s greatest ever players if he can continue to improve his game with each season. At 24, Grealish is about to embark upon the prime stage of his playing career which the Citizens could look to benefit from in the coming years.
Will Grealish Be A Decent Choice For The Citizens?
Pep Guardiola currently has Kevin De Bruyne as his primarily goal-scorer and assist-maker from midfield while the likes of Ilkay Gundogan, David Silva, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden battle it out for one of the other midfield spots alongside Rodri in his first XI. However, with David Silva set to leave the Etihad Stadium at the end of this campaign, Man City can use a new midfielder who can increase competition for places within their squad.
Grealish is more than capable of filling in that role as he will add a lot of goals and creativity to Guardiola’s midfield. The English midfield ace could potentially form a lethal midfield partnership with De Bruyne and Rodri which might propel the club to the summit of English football once again in the upcoming campaign. All in all, he will thrive playing football in Guardiola’s possession-oriented style, which makes him an excellent choice for the Mancunian giants to consider before the start of the new season.
