‘It would be great for him to play in the Champions League’: Jack Grealish’s agent hints at Aston Villa exit with tonight’s opponents Manchester United weighing up a £50m summer move
- Jack Grealish has been Aston Villa’s stand-out player in the Premier League
- He has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United in the summer
- United’s rivals, City, have also shown interest in the Villa captain and midfielder
- Grealish’s agent claims lure of the Champions League could benefit his progress
Jonathan Barnett has hinted Jack Grealish could leave Aston Villa by claiming the lure of Champions League football would greatly benefit his development.
Grealish has been heavily linked with a move away from Villa – who are in trouble of being relegated back to the Championship – with Manchester United eyeing up a £50million move, while City have also shown an interest.
But Grealish’s agent, Barnett, did insist that his main priority for the time being is keeping Villa in the Premier League.
Jack Grealish has been heavily linked with a move away from relegation-threatened Aston Villa
Barnett told Stretty News: ‘I don’t think they’re [Aston Villa] looking at the Championship themselves, they believe that hopefully they’ll get out of the trouble they’re in.
‘Jack believes it, he’s fighting hard, as hard as he can to stop that. That’s all that is on his mind at the moment.
‘He’s not interested in anything else other than fighting to get Aston Villa out of any trouble.’
However, Barnett did go on to suggest that Champions League football could lure Grealish out of Villa Park.
He added: ‘On the other hand, I think as far as his career is concerned, it would be great for him to play in the Champions League and develop his great skills and i’m not sure in which country or where that will be.
Manchester United have been in hot pursuit of the 24-year-old English midfielder
‘But that conversation won’t happen now because all he wants to do is fight and help Aston Villa.’
Grealish will come up against his suitors in the Premier League on Thursday night when Villa host Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.
And ahead of the meeting at Villa Park, Solskjaer has vowed that United will take special precautions for Grealish.
‘I think the last game they caused us some problems, Grealish off left and El Ghazi on the right,’ said Solskjaer.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be wary of Grealish’s threat when United visit Villa on Thursday
‘Grealish scored a fantastic goal. There’s been loads said about him and we need to be aware of him, if he’s off the left, middle or right.
‘He attracts players to him but there’s not just one player in that Villa team, there are a lot of them.
‘They’ve shown since lockdown they can hold their own. They’ve been in tight games.
‘They’ve worked on their shape and their counter attack is one of the most powerful in the league, they spring quickly. Set-plays as well. They’ve got some good first contact players, big size and some individual players.’
