People will question Jack Grealish’s potential role at Manchester City just like they did with Riyad Mahrez, claims former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie.
£54m-rated Grealish continues to be linked with a move to the Etihad, with The Telegraph reporting earlier this month that the 25-year-old attacking midfielder is a target for Pep Guardiola.
City are a side, however, that are already blessed with attacking quality, with their manager able to call upon the likes of Mahrez, Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne.
Who would you rather Manchester City sign?
Kane
Grealish
It was the same when Mahrez himself arrived, joining a squad that not only had both Sterling and De Bruyne, but also Leroy Sane and Bernardo Silva.
And now Hendrie believes Grealish could find himself in a similar situation if he does end up joining the Citizens in the summer – doubters questioning whether he is going to play or not.
“It’s a bit like Mahrez when he went to Manchester City,” the Sky Sports pundit exclusively told TIF. “I think everyone said, ‘Will he play?’ and he sort of gradually built himself into being one of the main players.
“I feel that it doesn’t matter where he [Grealish] goes. He’s going to go for a big fee and he’s going to have to be a regular member. You can’t just bring someone in for 100 million plus and not be a regular starter in the football club.”
Indeed, for the sort of money he could go for, it is hard to imagine Grealish being a bench player at the Etihad if such a deal does come to fruition.