‘I’d pick Jack Grealish over James Maddison’, says Ally McCoist amid Manchester United transfer rumours

Ally McCoist says he would choose to sign Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish over James Maddison, amid reports linking the Leicester City star with a move to Manchester United.

Maddison is said to be one of United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s top targets, and if no deal can be done in the January transfer window the Red Devils will push ahead to sign him in the summer.

The 23-year-old has impressed for the high-flying Foxes this season, scoring a number of stunning goals and altogether grabbing nine goals and three assists in 24 games.

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But he was overshadowed as Leicester drew with Aston Villa in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday night.

Much of the pre-match focus was on the midfield battle between Maddison and Grealish but, with England manager Gareth Southgate in the stands, the Villa captain stole the show with a mature display that was full of quality.

Grealish has been routinely linked with a move away from his boyhood club and has earned plenty of admirers with his performances this term.

And asked who he would choose between the two young Englishmen, McCoist told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast: “Right at this moment, I’d take Grealish.

“I’ve got to say I’ve been really impressed with Maddison this season as well, but in the Liverpool game when Brendan Rodgers played him in off the left, Trent Alexander-Arnold just took him all the way up back into the left-back area effectively and he couldn’t get playing his own game.

“Maddison is clearly a very talented player, but Jack is just on fire at the moment.”

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Ex-Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood agrees and would also pick Grealish given the choice, although admits he might be more than slightly biased about one of his former players.

However, he claims Southgate should pick both players for his next England squad ahead of Euro 2020 in the summer.

Also speaking on Thursday’s Sports Breakfast, Sherwood said: “They are different players, they are two exceptional number tens but they have subtle differences.

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“If I had to pick one, I’m going to be biased and say Jack Grealish, because I think he can turn a game with the way he dribbles and takes it to the heart of people.

“But Maddison is brilliant in that space in behind the midfield, he’s gets himself turned and he’s got a good appreciation of where people are around him.

“It all depends on how Gareth Southgate wants to set up, but surely they both have to be in the England squad.”

Former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy, however, says Maddison gets his vote.

The Sports Bar host says the former Norwich man has proven he can perform at the top level, with Leicester flying high in second place in the Premier League, and claims Grealish has yet to play to his full potential at Villa Park.

“I would go Maddison”, said Cundy.

“I like Grealish, but while there’s still a lot of footballer there, I don’t think we’ve seen anywhere near enough of what he could be because of the team he’s playing in.

“But how much is Grealish worth? Less than Maddison, that’s for sure.”