TalkSport insider Alex Crook has been discussing Aston Villa’s plans for the transfer window following recent activity surrounding Jack Grealish.
Grealish, an incredibly important figure when you consider that he provided either a goal or an assist for 32% of Villa’s goals in the Premier League last season, has been subject to plenty of transfer speculation in the past, with Manchester United showing an interest in him as far back as 2018.
That interest has kicked up a notch this summer with reports suggesting that Manchester City are lining up a £100m bid for him. And whilst Villa have reportedly opened up contract negotiations in an attempt to make him stay, speaking on TalkSport (4:06), Crook felt that Villa’s transfer activity this summer might be in preparation for his departure:
“Even though they don’t necessarily need the money, £100m for Aston Villa – that is a huge sum that’s been put on the table. And we hear this morning they’ve gone back in with a second bid for Emile Smith Rowe, Arsenal have rejected that, they want to tie him to a new contract.
But the fact they’ve already signed Buendía the fact they are trying to sign Smith Rowe suggests to me they are planning for Jack Grealish’s departure.”
TIF Thoughts on Alex Crook’s comments about Aston Villa and Jack Grealish
Would you accept £100m for Grealish this summer?
Yes
No
This is a smart approach from Villa because at least it covers all bases depending on what the outcomes are. If Grealish does agree to stay, then they can still have an incredibly important player on their books moving forward. But if they can’t, then they have plenty of money to spend not only on his replacement but also other areas within the squad.
And the best thing about all of this is that they are trying to get it all done as early as they can, we are still in June after all, to make sure they have enough wiggle room to try and rectify things rather than leaving things until the last minute.
It’s just another sign of how well the club is being run and a good sign of things to come following some already impressive work done by Dean Smith and the board at Villa Park.
In other news: ‘From what I’m hearing’ – Journalist drops big Smith Rowe transfer update at Aston Villa