Aston Villa

Aston Villa: Keith Gillespie claims Grealish will outgrow Villa

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Image for Aston Villa: Keith Gillespie claims Grealish will outgrow Villa

Former Premier League footballer Keith Gillespie has claimed that Jack Grealish’s ambitions will outgrow that of Aston Villa and he will endeavour to play Champions League football sooner rather than later.

Speaking to FootballFanCast, Gillespie claimed: “Somebody like Jack Grealish will want to be playing Champions League football. There’s no doubt about that, that’ll help him with England as well.

“It’s the old thing that happens, when you go to that bigger club, more recognition comes in terms of playing for your country, so I would imagine there will be a period where he does move on, whether it’s next season or the season after.”

Implicitly, the Northern Ireland international is surely referencing links between his former club, Manchester United, and Villa’s talismanic attacking force.

Although he is currently enduring a run out of the team with injury, few would dare to snub Grealish’s influence for the Villans.

Valued at £54 million by Transfermarkt, he has started in 73% of league games this season with 6 goals and 12 assists in a much-improved Villa side looking on course for a top-half finish.

In that sense, it is hardly unfathomable that he is attracting interest from a club of United’s size that look to be consolidating a Champions League finish by the end of the season.

However, it is the claim of ambition that is most risible; Grealish himself cited his affinity with the club as a key part of signing a new deal, and Villa’s owners have indicated a willingness to invest into the squad with significant funding.

Villa themselves have already surpassed the 35-point tally they managed last season as they escaped the drop zone by a point and are a team looking on the up.

There is nothing ruling out the possibility of Villa challenging for the top six next season – and Grealish could spearhead an ambitious charge.

With a long-term deal having only recently been signed, Grealish has lost a large degree of agency if he intends to force a move – and Villa’s local boy appears settled at the club regardless.

In other news: Pundit backs one man to save Villa millions in fees

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