In a recent report, The Telegraph (subscription required) revealed that Aston Villa are hoping to extend Jack Grealish’s contract amid interest from Manchester City this summer. It is believed that the Villans are eager to tie their captain down to a new deal to fend off interest from other clubs during this summer transfer window (via The Telegraph).
Grealish’s Incredible Numbers At Villa Park Last Season
Grealish experienced another sensational season with his boyhood club after putting in a series of match-winning performances as an influential member of Dean Smith’s frontline. The England international made 27 appearances for the West Midlands side in the previous campaign, netting seven goals and providing 12 assists on all fronts.
The 25-year-old was a consistent performer for the Villans in the attacking third as he averaged 1.9 shots, 3.1 key passes and 2.5 dribbles per 90 minutes in Premier League football. He has even taken care of possession when distributing the ball in the opposition half based on his pass completion rate of 83.3% in top-flight football (stats via whoscored).
At the moment, Grealish is playing at the top of his game, so it’s scary to think just how good he could become when he hits his peak in the coming seasons. Hence, it is no surprise that Man City are showing interest in recruiting him in this off-season.
Why The Villans Need To Keep Hold Of Grealish Beyond This Summer
Grealish is a deceptively quick wide player who can drive to the byline or cut inside to set up some decent opportunities for his teammates up top. He can strike the ball purely and with a lot of venom which makes him a potent goal-threat from long range.
The ten-time England international has already shown that he can score and create goals consistently in Premier League football, so the Villans simply cannot afford to lose a player of his skill set and leadership qualities this summer. He has been a talismanic figure at Villa Park over the past 18 months but his potential exit would leave a big hole which the Villans might struggle to get out of in the future.
Most of Smith’s first team is built around Grealish’s strengths. Hence, if Aston Villa lose their skipper in this off-season, they will struggle to find a suitable replacement capable of filling his shoes at the West Midlands club. With all things considered, Smith should try everything he can to keep hold of Grealish beyond this summer by tying him down to a new contract.
