According to recent reports from The Guardian, Premier League giants Manchester City are keen on signing Aston Villa starlet Jack Grealish in the ongoing transfer window as Pep Guardiola looks set to add to his attacking options.
The Citizens have made a bid in the region of £100 million for the 25-year-old playmaker, and if the deal goes through, he’ll become the most expensive footballer of the country.
On the other hand, Aston Villa want to keep hold of their captain as they have offered him a brand new contract in the hope that he stays at Villa Park.
In October 2020, Pep Guardiola spoke of his admiration for Grealish.
“He’s incredible, a top player.”
“I’m happy he stayed in the Championship to defend his club when he could have gone.
“He’s a talented player who always creates something. An exceptional player, but too expensive for Manchester City.”
Jack Grealish: A Leader Among Men
The Birmingham-born midfielder’s journey to top-flight football has been an inspiring one. Having started at Highgate United Youth, Grealish signed for Aston Villa when he was just six years old.
He spent the 2013/14 season on loan at Notts County, and in the following season, he gradually started securing his minutes as a first-team footballer. However, Villa got relegated in 2016 as they lost all the sixteen matches that Grealish played in.
The Villans bounced back to the Premier League in 2019 – thanks to the 25-year-old whose captainship saw them amass a club-record 10 league wins in a row. With 32 goal contributions in 62 games, it would be an understatement to say that he has been working wonders in the English top-division as well.
The Englishman managed to put up some impressive numbers on the board last season as he averaged 1.9 shots, 3.1 key passes, 2.5 dribbles, 0.7 crosses and 1.2 long balls per 90 minutes in the Premier League. Moreover, with a WhoScored rating of 7.56, he established himself as one of the best players in Europe. The Villa talisman possesses numerous attributes, but the one aspect that makes him extraordinarily special is his dribbling skills. Capable of carrying the ball from wide areas into the threatening central zones, he is a master at close control.
Last but not least, Grealish’s versatility makes him a more appealing option as it allows him to fill in as the conventional left-wing, left-sided midfielder as well as the contemporary attacking midfield position.
What Will He Add To The Club?
Pep Guardiola has been desperately trying to build a squad capable of European glory – and Jack Grealish might be his best bet ahead of the 2021/22 season. The Three Lions starlet has grown into a world-class attacker at Villa Park who can terrify the toughest of defences on his day. Moreover, with some of the world’s best players around him, one can expect him to develop into a more threatening figure.
However, with Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden competing for the same position, we might see Pep Guardiola limit his game-times to some extent. At 25, Grealish has a lot to offer, so it won’t be a complete surprise if Manchester City break the bank to secure his signature.
(Stats from WhoScored)
