Jack Grealish to Aston Villa: Why DREAM return is on the cards

Robin Bairner

• 23 Mar 2024 15:38 CDT
• 3 min read

Jack Grealish was forced to watch England’s international friendly with Brazil from afar, having been frozen out of Gareth Southgate’s squad due to a lack of playing time for Manchester City.

Reports this week indicate that City boss Pep Guardiola could move Grealish on in the summer, unhappy with the lack of development that the winger has made at the club.

Although it’s unclear which clubs might move for the 28-year-old, a switch back to Aston Villa could be an ideal solution for a player the Birmingham club transferred for €117.5 million little over two years ago.

READ MORE: Jack Grealish is a MAN UTD PLAYER and always has been!

The prospect is a compelling one for a team that could compete in the Champions League next season and would offer Grealish the type of game time that he has missed.

It is a move that the Birmingham-born winger is open to.

“It's a club that is so close to my heart and I definitely hope to go back there,” he told the Telegraph in 2023.

“That's always been in my mind. Ashley Young has done it and I want to do the same, 100 per cent.”

READ MORE: Latest Aston Villa transfer rumours

Logic behind Grealish Villa transfer

While there will inevitably be a financial aspect of the deal that represents a major hurdle – Grealish is reportedly on around €350,000 (£300,000) per week at Man City – there is sound logic behind the move.

According to data analytics experts SciSports, Villa are among the leading five clubs most suited to the winger. And this is without taking his affiliation with the team into account.

The Netherlands-based firm indicates that the only real deficiency that the Midlands club have in terms of getting the most out of Grealish is their formation. Manager Unai Emery would surely adjust his system to allow the attacker to be at his best. After all, he would instantly become their leading player.

With Grealish open to returning to Villa, it’s a dream transfer that Villans shouldn’t rule out.