Trevor Sinclair is backing Manchester City’s reported pursuit of Jack Grealish, telling talkSPORT (28 May, 9.40am) the Aston Villa captain could be a long-term replacement for Ilkay Gundogan at the Premier League champions.
As Sinclair himself says, time isn’t on Gundogan’s side.
He’s hardly on the scrapheap at the age of 30 – far from it, given the Germany international has just enjoyed the best season of his club career – but clubs the size of Manchester City can’t afford to stand still.
And, five months out from Gundogan’s 31st birthday, The Independent reports Grealish, a player five years his junior, could become City’s record signing in a deal worth a staggering £100 million.
Grealish – younger version of Gundogan
While not identical, Aston Villa’s Holte End hero certainly shares Gundogan’s slaloming stride, defence-splitting vision and eye for goal.
In fact, there’s an argument to be made that Grealish would actually be an upgrade on the former Dortmund dynamo, even if Gundogan was largely unplayable during long spells of a title-winning 2020/21 campaign.
“Gundogan isn’t getting any younger is he? So I think (replacing him with Grealish) would be the natural change,” says Sinclair, the former Man City winger.
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Grealish recently returned to action after three months out with a shinbone problem.
And Sinclair believes the England international would limit his time on the treatment table if he gave up his status as Aston Villa’s talisman to become a key cog in the Man City machine.
“Pep will get him moving the ball quicker, because that’s Pep’s way. Also, he won’t take so many knocks and won’t pick up so many injuries,” Sinclair adds.
Pep could protect Grealish at Manchester City
“I think that’s really important because 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 and longevity.
“(Moving to Manchester City) would help Grealish with the injuries he’s had.”
Interestingly, Pep Guardiola once labelled Grealish an “incredible, exceptional” talent – but then insisted he was “too expensive” for Man City.
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