OPINION
Michael Gray suggested that Aston Villa were facing the real threat of losing Jack Grealish regardless of whether they won promotion to the Premier League.
A Villans supporter called into talkSPORT following Dean Smith’s side beating Bolton 2-0 on Friday and claimed that they just weren’t sure whether Grealish would leave as he couldn’t imagine the midfielder being passionate about pulling on another side’s shirt.
Gray quickly dismissed that Grealish’s love for the Villans would affect anything and claimed the only chance the club had of keeping him was by reaching the Premier League.
“Football doesn’t work like that mate, he has been there for a long, long time and look good luck to you if you do get in the Premier League as I think that’s the only chance you’ve got of keeping hold of Jack Grealish,” said Gray on talkSPORT (Friday April 19th, 17:40).
“I think he is a Premier League player in waiting, what he is going to cost a Premier League side, I do not know, but I think since Dean Smith has walked through that door, he has now shown defensively what qualities he has got.
“He will want to do it with Aston Villa but if he doesn’t, he is a Premier League player next season.”
Jason Cundy then echoed Gray’s view and this prompted the former Sunderland player to elaborate on his opinion even further, and even amend what he originally said by hinting that Premier League football at Villa Park still may not stop the 23-year-old leaving.
“Aston Villa can have no qualms in Jack Grealish walking through that door as he has given his all for that club since he was eight-years-old, look you can’t hold that against any player who has aspirations to get to the top and that’s where Jack Grealish should be as he has the ability and quality,” added Gray.
“If they get up, brilliant he might stay there, it wasn’t long ago there was £20million come in from Tottenham and it might now be double that as he has that quality people are looking for.”
Grealish is a key player for the Villans and it will be a big blow to lose him in the summer, you just have to look at the fact the club’s recent winning run has happened at the same time the 23-year-old has returned from injury.
However while Gray is spot on to suggest Grealish, who has scored six and assisted five this season, is destined for the Premier League next season one way or another, his verdict is surely going to boil the blood of some Villans supporters.
This is because several fans will question why Gray is pouring doubt on the future of the midfielder now when everything is going right at Villa Park, and disagree with his suggestion the Villans winning promotion won’t be enough.
If Aston Villa reach the Premier League, a section of supporters are surely going to belief that’s enough to keep Grealish as his love of the club and top-flight football will be all they think he needs.
This is because there’s no guarantee that if Grealish joins a team like Tottenham, competing for a place in the top-six, that they will regularly use him next season.