£50m Jack Grealish debate opens as Arsenal, Chelsea and Aston Villa send transfer message

Former Aston Villa favorite Jack Grealish could be set for a sensational move to Premier League rivals Arsenal after the England international failed to cement a place in Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City starting XI , last season.

Despite being part of the Premier League winning squad, Grealish has found it difficult to feature in the first team consistently. The 28-year-old made 36 appearances for City in the 2023/24 season, contributing three goals and three assists.

His playing time at Man City was significantly reduced to just 2,124 minutes compared to 3,495 minutes the previous season. Guardiola commented on Grealish’s situation in February, saying: “It depends on him” and added: “I try to be fair in my decision. We make mistakes but… so if he plays a lot of minutes last season and this season. a little more a little bit at the beginning, it’s the same player, the same manager, the same way we want to play.”

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“The same. Nothing has changed, only the way you perform is the difference and we need him. We have said from day one that we need him, having a special quality for our team. We need him. It depends on him. I hope he can do some good last month.”

With competition for places at City already fierce, Grealish’s position could be further threatened by the expected arrival of 20-year-old Savio from Troyes, another club in the City Football Group network, reports Football London.

Savio turned heads during his loan spell at Girona last season, scoring 11 goals and providing 10 assists in 41 outings for the Spanish club. The Brazilian winger will join Manchester City in a £40million deal.

With Jeremy Doku also in Pep Guardiola’s squad, Jack Grealish could see his playing time drop further if Savio stays at City for the 2024/25 season rather than leaving on another loan.

“Despite many proposals, Manchester City decide to bring him back because Savio can be an important player,” Fabrizio Romano revealed on Facebook. “Formal steps are expected to follow after the Copa America.”

Grealish’s limited action last season saw him miss out on Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 England squad, which could see him consider a move away from Manchester next summer. Arsenal could be a new destination.

For many Villa fans – it’s time for him to come home to B6. whether or not it’s realistic or not is another argument entirely and everyone has a different opinion on it.

The former Villa captain has won seven pieces of silverware at Man City since joining them in the summer of 2021, including three Premier League titles and the Champions League. But after suffering the devastating blow following a stop-start league campaign, where does Grealish go from here?

Can Villa afford it? Would she even want him? One player who knows the true value of a wide player is none other than former England winger Chris Waddle.

The former Spurs and Marseille man believes there are only two English clubs who can suit Grealish, Villa and Chelsea.

Speaking to Betway, he stated: “If you buy Grealish, are you buying him as a winger? Tottenham like pace, Jack is not blessed with pace. You should play him in a number 10 role and they already have James Maddison for that.

“So Spurs not, and I wouldn’t say Arsenal either. Liverpool play a very fast paced game so I’m not sure there either. What you’re looking at is, would you play Grealish as a wing or a number. 10, or midfielder if I were to buy him I would be looking to play him in the middle. He does some work on the wing, but the wings create, go around and Jack can’t get around the back.

“Yes, he doesn’t give the ball away and he doesn’t take too many risks, he gives the side balance. But I think I would look at his old club Aston Villa, I would look to play with him. that three in the middle of the park I’m not sure about Newcastle, they play a high tempo and I think they need to go to a side where they look to play him as a midfielder.

“Chelsea could be an outside bet, with Gallagher possibly going, you could see him playing that midfield role. He’d be more effective there. He’s got vision, he can see things, he’s good at giving and going. But a stuck in that wing, you’re thinking there’s definitely more in his closet.

“So if I were a top club looking for a winger I would look at players ahead of Grealish.”

According to football. London, Edu and Arteta are aiming to strengthen the Gunners’ ranks before August 30 as they aim for a third successive Premier League title bid.

While a central midfielder tops their wish list, football. London have learned that the north London outfit are also looking for a forward.

Grealish could be a significant upgrade on Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, bringing a winning mentality to the Gunners. The former Aston Villa player could even feature in Arsenal’s midfield, possibly in one of the No. 8 if Arteta deems it appropriate.

City’s No. 10 is valued at £50m by Transfermarkt, although City can demand a much higher fee.

Whether Arsenal have any interest in Grealish remains unclear, but with Savio seemingly set to join Guardiola’s side, it would be unwise for Edu not to consider a move.

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