Aston Villa

Aston Villa: Alex Crook discusses Jack Grealish’s future

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TalkSport insider Alex Crook has provided an update on the situation surrounding Jack Grealish and his future at Aston Villa following interest from Manchester City.

The 25-year-old’s future has been one of the biggest talking points of the summer transfer window, alongside that of England teammate Harry Kane, with reports over the weekend suggesting that Pep Guardiola’s side had submitted a bid for the Villa captain’s services worth £100m – a number that would break the British transfer record that was set by Paul Pogba’s move to Manchester United in 2016.

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In this 2019/20 season quiz, do you remember who scored Villa's first PL goal of the season?

And although Aston Villa have reportedly held out hope that he will sign a new contract at the club in order to convince him to stay, speaking about the matter on TalkSport, Crook seemed to be of the belief that Grealish’s future was leaning more towards an exit rather than an extension:

“I think it will be accepted. I think the vibe coming out of Villa Park [this weekend] is that they will reluctantly agree to sell their captain should he desire to relocate to Manchester City. I think the final decision will be with Jack Grealish.

“When I spoke to you guys last weekend, I was hearing that maybe he wasn’t completely sure. Would he be a regular first-team starter? Does he have it in him to walk out on his hometown club? I think now he’s leaning towards what a fantastic opportunity this is to go and play for Pep Guardiola, to go and play for the champions, to go and play for one of the best teams in Europe.

“And I think that move probably will go through now. If he does decide to stay at Villa Park, that new contract will be on the table. But as we sit here now, I think Jack Grealish [is] very likely to become the first £100m player in Premier League history.”

TIF Thoughts on Alex Crook’s comments about Aston Villa and Jack Grealish…

Will Grealish leave Villa this summer?

Yes

Yes

No

No

A move by Grealish to Manchester City does certainly seem to be a move that would benefit all parties concerned.

Grealish would get a chance to play for a team that are regularly amongst the favourites for multiple competitions, Manchester City get a player with a track record of being able to provide the firepower up front that might be able to help take them over the line in their quest to win the Champions League, and Aston Villa get a big cash surplus to fund a transfer window that has already seen them spend big.

And as we enter the final month of the transfer window, the only question now is if Grealish’s future, whether it be at Villa Park or the Etihad, will be resolved by the time the window closes.

In other news: “Deal to be done” – AVFC journalist throws Man Utd outcast into the mix after Smith Rowe blow

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Freelance sports journalist & broadcaster.