In a recent interview (via The Birmingham Mail), Arsenal legend Robert Pires urged Manchester City to secure the signature of Aston Villa midfield ace Jack Grealish when he said,
“City need to find a replacement for Silva next season – and I think Grealish is someone who Pep will look at. He is English, he has good experience of the Premier League and he has a great technique.
“But I think Grealish is a player who would interest a lot of top clubs, like United, Chelsea and Arsenal.
“This has been a tough season for Villa, but I think Grealish will take a lot from it. He has learned how to fight every weekend and we have all seen how much it means to him to play for the club.
“Playing against Man City at Wembley is a great stage for Jack.”
Pires also heaped praise on the £60m-rated Villans skipper and said (via The Birmingham Mail), “Jack is a great footballer with a good technique – and I love watching him play because he reminds me of Dennis Bergkamp.
“I like to see him playing in the same position as Dennis, as a No.10.
“He has great vision, he isn’t a selfish player because he always wants to do what is best for the team, and I think he has a great future.
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on Jack because he is still a young player learning the game and Dennis was an incredible talent and a champion.”
Grealish’s Spectacular Form At Villa Park This Season
Grealish has been in sparkling form for the West Midlands outfit and will undoubtedly be their best hope to avoid relegation this season. He has been involved in 30 matches for Dean Smith’s side this term, registering nine goals and eight assists in all competitions. As evident from his record, the English midfielder has successfully managed to establish himself amongst the most productive playmakers in the Premier League.
The Aston Villa academy graduate has also averaged 2.2 shots, 2.8 key passes and 2.3 dribbles per 90 minutes in league football (stats via whoscored) which indicates his growing influence at Villa Park. Smith’s hopes of retaining the talented playmaker could hinge on whether Villa can save themselves from being relegated from the Premier League at the end of this campaign.
What Are The English Midfielder’s Best Attributes?
Grealish enjoys the freedom to complete some dangerous dribbles with the ball from midfield. He has the eye to pick out an inviting pass in the attacking third of the pitch. The Villa skipper excels at playing short-crisp passes with others around him and can also be a significant goal-threat from outside the penalty box. What makes Grealish such an invaluable member of Smith’s first-team is his incredible work-rate off the ball and his desire to get stuck in a few tackles at the centre of the park. He has averaged one tackle in every league match this season which has only enhanced his reputation as an all-round midfielder (stats via whoscored).
Is Grealish The Right Choice For The Citizens?
Grealish has generally been unleashed as an attacking midfielder this season, but he can also play as a wide player if required. Therefore, acquiring the English midfielder will give Pep Guardiola the option to tweak his formation and be more flexible with his tactics next season. He will be able to switch positions quite often with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez based on his versatility and skillset. Hence, the Villa talisman will be an excellent choice for the Citizens ahead of the new season.
