Jack Grealish stance on Aston Villa transfer mooted after Gareth Southgate Euro 2024 snub
Jack Grealish will be keen to remain at Manchester City this summer instead of returning to Aston Villa despite his snub from the England squad, according to Alan Hutton.
The 28-year-old had been included in Gareth Southgate’s initial preliminary squad ahead of this summer’s tournament but was left out of the Three Lions’ final 26-man unit following a disappointing campaign at the Etihad.
Reports earlier in the season had suggested that the Premier League champions would be willing to listen to offers for the Englishman this summer [Football Insider, 21 April] and some pundits have mooted the possibility of a return to Villa Park.
Although Hutton admits he is desperate to see Grealish back in claret and blue next season, he thinks the England international has unfinished business with Manchester City that he will want to take care of.
“I would love to see it happen,” Hutton exclusively told Villa News.
“I would love to see him back there helping Aston Villa compete at the top end of the Premier League and for trophies and different things.
“Do I think it will happen this summer? No, I don’t if I’m perfectly honest, I think he’s still got unfinished business at Manchester City and he will want to get back in and be a regular starter.
“They’re one of the best club teams in the world, so it is going to be hard and you’re going to have to be playing at the top of your ability, but he will know that he can do that and if that happens he’ll be back in the England squad.
“I don’t think it is a great decision from England because he is different from everything that they’ve got, especially in certain games where you’d have had to use him off the bench.
“But he will be hurting, I know him well so he will be hurting from it but he will want to prove everyone wrong.”
Will Aston Villa sign Jack Grealish from Manchester City in summer transfer window after Euro 2024 update?
Like Hutton, most Villa fans would absolutely love to see Grealish back at Villa Park this summer, but it just doesn’t seem like there is enough in place at this moment in time for the deal to get the go-ahead.
The Villans need reinforcements in attack, but their priority will almost certainly be bolstering the midfield in the coming weeks as Douglas Luiz nears the exit while Boubacar Kamara is stuck on the treatment table.
Grealish will know that a good campaign at the Etihad will have him straight back in Southgate’s squad next season. He may have missed out this time, but he doesn’t need a summer transfer to get his international career back on track.
Hopefully, he will return to Villa Park as a Villans again in the future, but it doesn’t seem like it will happen before the start of next season.
In other Aston Villa news, Emi Martinez’s stance on a summer exit has emerged as a big-money offer was mooted at Villa Park
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