Jack Grealish stance on summer Aston Villa transfer mooted amid Manchester City exit links
Only Jack Grealish will know whether or not he would be interested in making a return to Aston Villa this summer, according to Alan Hutton.
The Villa academy product has enjoyed another mixed season at the Etihad Stadium, only making 20 Premier League appearances because of various fitness issues but also managing to lift his third league title in a row.
Reports have suggested that Manchester City would consider selling the England international this summer if the right offer was made [Football Insider, 21 April] with some suggesting the Villans would be keen to bring him back to Villa Park this summer.
Hutton, who was a teammate of Grealish’s during their time at Villa, admits that the 28-year-old still holds a lot of love for the club but isn’t certain that he would be desperate to return to the Midlands this summer.
“It is his boyhood club, he’s always going to love the club,” Hutton told Villa News.
“He’s had really good memories there with everything that went on and then he’s moved away to Manchester City. Only Jack is going to know what the answer is to this question.
“Has he had a chat with Pep where he has said you’re my go-to guy next year, you’ve still got a lot in you, you’re not going anywhere?
“Or is it more of a conversation where he’s said you’re not going to get as many minutes next season as you would like, you can stay, you will be used but there are other options as well and then that comes down to the player.
“Is he happy with that? Winning trophies but possibly only playing 20 games, or would you like to go and play in the Champions League with your boyhood club?
“If they can figure out a deal then we’ll have to wait and see. There are a lot of ifs and buts in that, but I’m sure we will know in due course.”
Will Aston Villa manage to complete summer transfer for Manchester City star Jack Grealish?
Unai Emery and Villa will be keen to add to their squad when the window opens this summer, especially as they begin to shape their squad ahead of next season’s Champions League campaign.
Grealish would undoubtedly bring immense quality to Emery’s side and add an extra dimension to the Villans’ attack, but it remains to be seen if he would be willing to potentially drop out of the Premier League title race to return to Villa Park.
Although he hasn’t been playing week in and week out under Pep Guardiola, he has won more in the last three years than a lot of players win in their careers. It won’t be easy for the England international to give that up.
If the right offer was made this summer, both City and Grealish would have a decision to make. There could be a twist or two yet to come in this transfer saga between now and the start of next season.
In other Ason Villa news, Champions League qualification could help Villa secure Michael Olise ahead of Manchester United
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