Aston Villa star Jack Grealish has been linked with a move to a Premier League giant following the play-off final.
If there was one positive that Aston Villa could take from their agonising play-off defeat at the weekend, it is perhaps that Jack Grealish is most definitely back on the right track to becoming a real superstar.
The youngster was simply superb at Wembley and his brilliance led to one Fulham red card and should have certainly led to another with Ryan Fredericks lucky to stay on the pitch during the first-half after appearing to stamp on the attacking midfielder.
Keeping Grealish therefore is likely to be one of the club’s key objectives this summer. But that looks set to be a lot easier said than done, with The Sun recently reporting that Manchester United are eyeing a move for the 22-year-old.
In an ideal world for Villa, they will be in a position to reject United’s advances and will find that Grealish is more than happy to stay at Villa Park beyond this window and spearhead another attempt at securing promotion. Of course, that may not necessarily be the case for previously-big-spending Villa.
If Villa therefore, become resigned to the idea of losing Grealish to Manchester United, Steve Bruce should demand that Sam Johnstone is included as part of the deal.
Replacing Grealish would be Villa’s toughest task this summer, but Johnstone’s return to his parent club is undoubtedly a massive blow also with the goalkeeper establishing himself as one of the most impressive stoppers in the Championship.
The Birmingham Mail recently reported that there is no chance of a permanent deal for Johnstone after Villa missed out on promotion, but the Villans should at least try their luck and suggest to the Premier League giants that they would accept a lower fee for Grealish if Johnstone heads in the opposite direction – should they become resigned to losing the academy graduate.
Johnstone may have his eye on a chance in the top flight, but if a number one spot at the highest level is not forthcoming, then perhaps he may be more open-minded about the prospect of returning to Villa.
Villa’s priority should surely be to keep Grealish, but if it is becoming increasingly apparent that his future lies elsewhere, then Bruce should look to make the best out of a bad situation by using his exit to re-sign one of this past season’s other key men.
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