Jack Grealish has four years remaining on his contract at Aston Villa and hasn’t shown any desire to leave this campaign, but The Athletic claimed that Manchester United aren’t giving up in their pursuit of the 25-year-old.
A bid from the Red Devils for the England international reportedly depends on two factors – Paul Pogba’s future and Villa’s financial demands.
Bruno Fernandes has been United’s star performer ever since his arrival from Sporting Lisbon a year ago, but Grealish has created more chances (55) in the Premier League this season than the Portuguese playmaker (52) and created four chances in Friday’s 2-1 defeat to United, so there is little doubt that he would improve their squad.
The Athletic claimed that it may take a bid of around £90m for Villa to part company with their playmaker, but United may not make an offer until they have resolved Pogba’s future. The 27-year-old could be on his way out of Old Trafford amid interest from Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, so his transfer could fund a move for Grealish, depending on how steadfast the Midlands club can hold in their £90m valuation of him.
What Ole Gunnar Solskjaer plans to do with Fernandes and Donny van de Beek is also relevant. The former can operate as a number 10 while being an occasional roaming left-sided player, which is Grealish’s position. Van de Beek can also play both roles in midfield, so United might be overstocked in that area. That’s not to mention competition from Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford too.
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United wanted Grealish over the summer but settled for Van de Beek and may have too many players in his position to warrant going back in for the England playmaker.
That could only be good news for Aston Villa, for whom he has been by far their most important creative outlet this season.
