Aston Villa finally have Jack Grealish replacement as damning stats emerge

Aston Villa will hope they have finally replaced Jack Grealish this summer.

The England international was undoubtedly the talisman at Villa Park in his final three seasons.

He contributed to 48 goals and assists in those campaigns as he helped establish the Villans back in the Premier League.

That was always going to be difficult to replicate and it has certainly turned out that way.

Morgan Rogers has arguably come closest with his on the ball ability and his 56 goal involvements in the last three years.

It now looks as if the true heir to the Grealish throne has made his way to B6 in the shape of Johan Manzambi.

Johan Manzambi has ability that made Jack Grealish

The claret and blue faithful have been left massively excited by the addition of the Switzerland international from Freiburg.

Villa News has covered the arrival of Manzambi from Freiburg after beating Newcastle United to his signature.

He has been highly coveted after his five goal involvements in four World Cup games this summer.

As impressive as that is, it is actually his Bundesliga exploits that have caught the eye.

The versatile midfielder was the most fouled player in the German top division last summer after being brought down 78 times.

Having made 27 appearances, that works out at an average of 3.4 per game, while being fouled 14 times more than the next closest.

That will give Villa fans flashbacks to the days of Grealish as he was consistently the most fouled player in the Premier League.

In 2019/20 he clocked up 167, followed by 109 in his second campaign back in the top tier.

That sort of ability hasn't been seen since the Englishman's departure.

Last season, Rogers was the most fouled man in B6, but just 49 times, representing 70 per cent less than Grealish's best.

There will be a hope that Manzambi can replicate the ex-Villa skipper as he has already shown that talent with Freiburg.

Why Aston Villa are excited about Manzambi

The 2005-born talent has certainly seen his stock rise thanks to a stellar World Cup campaign.

He was already attracting attention before that after putting up seven goals and six assists with Freiburg.

His Bundesliga stats speak volumes as he doesn't appear to have a clear weakness.

Manzambi created 20 chances and put up 33 successful dribbles while also winning 179 duels and 35 tackles.

The Swiss ace has done that at 20 in Germany, so now needs to prove what he can do in the Premier League.

If he can even come close to what Grealish managed in B6, he'll have a good time in claret and blue.