EXCLUSIVE
TOO DEAR
‘Jack Grealish will stay at Aston Villa this summer’ with Manchester United and Man City unlikely to pay £130m price tag for England international, Villa insider tells talkSPORT
Jack Grealish will STAY at Aston Villa this summer, as the midfielder's eye-boggling price tag may prove too rich even for Manchester City.
The Villa captain has emerged as one of the Premier League’s brightest talents and has been strongly linked with a move away from Villa Park this summer, with Man United also said to be interested.
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Grealish impressed last season as the playmaker returned seven goals and 12 assists in 27 games, in a campaign that was hampered by injury as he missed 12 matches.
He has returned to fitness just in time for Euro 2020, where his stock could rise even more if he continues his stellar performances in a Three Lions shirt.
Recent transfer reports have linked Grealish with a big-money move to Premier League champions City, with Pep Guardiola said to be ready to break the British transfer record to sign the £100million-rated ace.
But former skipper and club insider Gabriel Agbonlahor has told talkSPORT Villa will want more than that, closer to £130m for their star man.
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And he believes Grealish will end up staying at Villa Park this summer, as it’s unlikely City or United will splash out on that fee.
“Jack Grealish will stay, is what I’m hearing, and Villa will invest as well,” Agbonlahor said on Friday's talkSPORT Breakfast.
“Who can afford him? If Aston Villa were going to sell him they’d want over £100m.
“And do Man City need him? They’ve already got the likes of [Phil] Foden, [Kevin] De Bruyne and [Ilkay] Gundogan. They’re looking for a striker as well, so are they going to spend £100m [on Grealish]?
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“Man City and Man United are the only ones that would go for him in the Premier League, but with COVID are these teams going to want to pay £100m or £130m?
“I’m not too sure.”
But, with reports claiming Man City are ready to invest significant funds to bring Grealish to the Etihad Stadium this summer, Trevor Sinclair insisted the midfielder can take his career to the next level under Guardiola’s coaching.
The former City man told talkSPORT: “Pep [Guardiola] will get Grealish playing the ball quicker because that’s how Manchester City play.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez lauds Jack Grealish as 'England's best player' and compares teammate to fellow Argentinian Lionel Messi
“He won’t take so many knocks and he won’t pick up so many injuries. That’s really important.
“Jack Wilshere always waited until the last minute to get rid of the ball and he took a lot of heavy knocks.
“It’s not good for your future, it’s not good for your longevity and fitness if you’re always taking knocks, having a week or two weeks off.
“So not only will it help Grealish integrate into that Manchester City side, it will also help him with the injury problems that he’s had.”
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