Savage: Man United should move for Grealish not Longstaff or James

Former Premier League midfielder Robbie Savage has said that English giants Manchester United should move for Aston Villa playmaker Jack Grealish this summer.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will undoubtedly be looking to upgrade his squad after a chastening season at Old Trafford, and Savage believes the Villa star is the man for the Red Devils – ahead, even, of top flight star Sean Longstaff.

“If I were Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the first signing on my wanted list this summer would be Jack Grealish,” he wrote in his Daily Mirror column. “If the rumours are true, and Manchester United are looking at Swansea’s Daniel James and Newcastle prospect Sean Longstaff as possible signings, I would go for Grealish ahead of them.

“Even if Aston Villa win promotion on Monday, Grealish is the player I would move heaven and earth to wear the red shirt of United. As the best player in the Championship, he would cost a lot of money. But Grealish glides past opponents, took on the Villa captaincy at a young age and thrived on the responsibility. Jack’s the lad. He’s the one United should be looking to sign ahead of anyone else.”

OPINION

This certainly isn’t what the Villa supporters will want to be reading. Grealish is the prize jewel in Dean Smith’s collection at Villa Park, and the fans will want him to stay more than anything this summer. However, you have to be realistic at the same time. If the Villans lose in the Play Off final to Derby County then you’d think that Grealish will almost certainly be wearing a different shirt next season. He’s a player in demand, and he’s far too good for the Championship. If Villa go up, though, they might just have a chance of keeping him. Having said that, if United follow Savage’s advice and move in for the Englishman then things become tricky for Smith. The Red Devils still have significant pulling power and it would be difficult for Villa or Grealish to say no if they make a big money move for the playmaker. However, James and Longstaff appear to be their primary targets at the moment, so as long as United ignore Savage’s ramblings – as appears extremely likely – Villa should be fine on this score.

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