Did Sheffield Wednesday save Aston Villa from making a big transfer error in January?

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Aston Villa were reportedly prepared to offer Jack Grealish to try and sign Jordan Rhodes, who eventually moved to Sheffield Wednesday.

Aston Villa may have been saved from making a transfer error in the January window, after Middlesbrough decided to accept Sheffield Wednesday’s loan offer for Jordan Rhodes.

HITC broke the news that Villa were trying to negotiate a deal for Rhodes, and were even prepared to offer Grealish in exchange for the striker.

Wednesday, however, made a move for the Scottish international and got the deal over the line before Villa made a formal approach.

And Rhodes’ switch to Hillsborough may have saved Villa from making a decision which they would have regretted.

There is no doubting that Rhodes has the quality to score goals in the Championship, but the deal would surely have been a far better one for Boro than Villa.

Grealish may not have had the impact many were expecting this season, but there is no doubting his talent.

The attacking midfielder is still raw, but with the correct coaching he could become a threat at the top level.

Grealish has the quality required to be a match winner, and his long-term future looks brighter than Rhodes’s, who has failed to impress above Championship level.

Rhodes struggled to break in at Middlesbrough, and while he is a feared marksmen in the Football League, there has to be question marks over whether he can make it at the very top level.

Rhodes may well have made a bigger impact at Villa this season than Grealish has been able to, but Steve Bruce’s side are a long way back from the play offs.

Although Villa are still aiming to make it into the top six, it seems unlikely that they will be able to catch the promotion chasers.

And, as a result, Villa are better off sticking by Grealish and giving him time to learn.

Grealish still has developing to do, as his recent red card against Nottingham Forest suggests, but Villa have a special talent on their hands and they should be looking to keep hold of him, rather than trade him for some short-term gain.