Newcastle are still hunting for an answer to their ‘number 10’ problem, but this Aston Villa star looks an ideal candidate.
Jack Grealish is already a popular figure on Tyneside, having won Newcastle United the Championship title with his equaliser for Aston Villa against Brighton and Hove Albion on the final day of last season.
And the talented midfielder has used that strike to kick on and establish himself as a genuine star this season. So could Newcastle consider a swoop for Grealish, in the event that Aston Villa fail to join them in the Premier League next season?
While Ayoze Perez has excelled in recent weeks, Newcastle are still in dire need of a genuine creative midfielder who could play in the number 10 role and pull the strings. Grealish has certainly proven himself capable of doing that – at Championship level at least.
Surely, if Aston Villa were to fail in their promotion bid, he would want to test himself in the Premier League. Few moves should be more attractive than a transfer to join the Magpies and work under Rafa Benitez.
In comments reported by the Express and Star, Aston Villa’s Steve Bruce – a Geordie himself – compared Grealish to Paul Gascoigne earlier this season. What better place for him to really make his mark then, than at Gazza’s hometown club?
Grealish has had his controversies in the past, but Benitez has managed to tame players like Shelvey and could certainly get the best from another potential difference-maker.
Given Fulham are asking for £20million for Tom Cairney, according to The Sun, and will surely win promotion, Grealish may be a more realistic target too.
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