Speaking recently on the Football Writers Podcast, Seb Stafford-Bloor claimed that he believed Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish will be leaving the club this summer – with Manchester United his most likely destination.
After being linked with Tottenham while Aston Villa were in the Championship, Grealish ended up staying with the Birmingham-based club for the duration of their second-tier spell, eventually helping them to secure promotion back to the Premier League in the 2018/19 season.
This term, Villa survived by the skin of their teeth, finishing in 17th place and above the relegation zone by a single point, after defeating Arsenal in their penultimate game of the season before securing a draw with West Ham United on the final day – with Grealish scoring the goal for Villa at the London Stadium.
However, despite the fact that Villa will be in the Premier League again next season, Grealish has once again been linked with a move away from the club, and, speaking on the Football Writers Podcast, Stafford-Bloor stated his belief that the 24-year-old will be a Manchester United player next year.
He said: “I think he’ll end up at Manchester United. I want him to stay [at Villa]. I don’t see the harm in him staying, either.
“I’ve had the pleasure of watching Jack Grealish play at Villa Park. Today, more so than ever before, there is something very special about watching a local hero in his natural environment. And especially so when it’s a player of Grealish’s abilities; his technical profile, he’s got a slightly anachronistic style – we accept that. These guys are gifted and expressive and uninhibited on the ball and the crowd love him and he loves them and I can’t get enough of that kind of thing.
“I understand all the motivation for him leaving. At the same time, with Villa staying in the Premier League – and whatever they do next being hypothetically built around his abilities – that is an optimal situation for a player like him.
“If he was to go, let’s say, just hypothetically, he goes to Manchester United, what does that look like? It involves a bigger contract, it involves a bigger profile, but it also probably involves a slightly more tenuous role – he will play where there are holes in that side, not in a role designed for him. And that is a very significant difference for someone like him, who has to be free in a formation, who has to feel able to express himself, who has to feel able to take risks with the ball. That’s very difficult.”
TIF Thoughts…
As such, it would seem as although Stafford-Bloor believes that Grealish will indeed end up moving to Manchester United, he would very much prefer the 24-year-old to remain at Villa.
Do you think Jack Grealish will end up at Manchester United ahead of next season?
Yes
No
However, whether or not he gets his wish, we all will have to wait and see whether United or any other club come in the for £27.45 million-rated man this summer.