In a recent interview with The Daily Star, former Premier League commentator and current Bein Sports TV pundit, Andy Gray tipped Manchester United to sell Paul Pogba this summer so that they can fund a move for Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish. Gray also expressed his concern over whether football would ever be the same again after the recent COVID-19 pandemic when he said (via The Daily Star),
“We don’t know if football is ever going to be the same again and whether It’ll affect player values and salaries. We’re entering a world of unknowns.
“But when the dust settles, if I could sell Pogba for £100m and bring in Grealish for £70m I would do it in a heartbeat. It’s a no brainer.
“United still might be able to get their money back on Pogba.
“We know his value commercially and on social media with his millions of followers. That’s important to football clubs these days and it gives him an added kudos.
“But fans aren’t really bothered about all that. They just want him to contribute on the football pitch.
“He’s pretty much failed at United. Is it his own fault or just bad luck with injuries? I think it’s probably a combination of the two.
“I don’t know Pogba so I’m not judging his character, I’m judging what he’s brought to United and it’s been nowhere near enough.
“Real Madrid seems the right fit for him – and his agent has been edging towards that.”
Grealish Vs Pogba: Who Has The Edge?
Grealish has enjoyed the best season of his football career at Villa Park this season after putting in several match-winning displays for his boyhood club so far. He has registered nine goals and eight assists in 31 matches for the West Midlands giants this term in all competitions which goes to highlight how much he has matured as a player over the past eight months.
The talented playmaker has averaged 2.1 shots, 2.7 key passes and 2.2 dribbles in every 90 minutes of football in the top tier of England this season (stats via whoscored). The 24-year-old’s numbers have been sensational in league football this season which has enhanced his reputation across his homeland. If Grealish can maintain his incredible form in the upcoming campaign, then he will be a nailed-on starter for Gareth Southgate’s England national team in next year’s UEFA European Championship.
In contrast, Pogba has endured an underwhelming season at Man United as he has missed a major chunk of this campaign due to a severe ankle injury. The ex-Juventus midfielder has only made eight appearances for the Red Devils this term, playing a total of 610 minutes in the process. However, to the Frenchman’s credit, he has got two assists to show for his efforts during that time.
Should Solskjaer Part Ways With Pogba And Sign Grealish This Summer?
Based on both their stats from this campaign, it is a no-brainer for Man United to ship out Pogba in favour of Grealish as the Villa skipper is an up-and-coming talent, who needs a bigger platform to take his game to the next level. With each passing day, Pogba’s time at Old Trafford seems numbered as he has not done anything to please the Red Devils faithful in this calendar year.
Grealish will not only add another dimension to the Man United attack but also increase competition for places within Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad. He will be a significant upgrade over Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and Andreas Pereira as he is far from consistent than any of those players. The England Under-21 international has the potential to strike up a lethal attacking partnership with the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Daniel James and Mason Greenwood at the Theatre of Dreams.
Grealish’s incredible versatility to play in multiple positions in the opposition half makes him a perfect fit for the Red Devils. Hence, Solskjaer should listen to Gray’s advice and consider shipping Pogba out of the club to fund a big-money move for Grealish before the start of the new campaign.
