United admire Grealish
Manchester United failed in the summer window to acquire the services of a quality wide man to add to their team. Jadon Sancho was a clear target but United were unable to reach Borussia Dortmund’s valuation of the England international. There were also rumours of a pursuit of Ousmane Dembele, the France international and Barcelona winger was tipped with a possible loan with option to buy deal but in the end nothing materialised.
Now, the option of Jack Grealish has once again resurfaced. The Aston Villa and England international has enjoyed a solid start to the new season after signing a new contract with Villa after helping them achieve survival last season.
However, it is clear that Grealish has potential beyond a continual bout to avoid relegation season upon season and a move to a big club could soon be on the cards with The Athletic claiming Grealish still has takers at Old Trafford.
“I believe they do,” said The Athletic correspondent Laurie Whitwell when asked if United remain interested in Grealish. “His new contract protects his value for Aston Villa, but Grealish still has admirers at United.”
With the contract protecting the 25-year-old’s value in addition to the premiums of being a Premier League player and an international for the home nation, any possible fee would need to be sizeable to tempt Villa into parting ways with their talismanic figure.
Milan missed out
Former AC Milan talent-spotter Danilo Pagni has revealed that one of his biggest regret was not signing Grealish for the huge Italian club.
“The biggest regret, however, is another. Grealish, midfielder born in 1995 of Aston Villa, I had seen some of his games in the Championship and I fell in love with him,” said Pagni.
“He was playing with his socks lowered in the style of the 60s; I write a message to the management saying that I think he should be taken. Two years later he exploded.”
Pagni was asked why the names he spoke of never arrived at San Siro. He spoke of Hakim Ziyech, Phil Foden and Diogo Jota.
“Mirabelli [former AC coach] had too little time to build the team, only one transfer session. I realized that this Milan had no future and the owners had sold the club, so I decided to go to Ternana. It’s just a pity that all this work done in around the world has not been valued “.
Imagining Grealish in Italy seems farfetched but with the gradual increase in English talent moving abroad, maybe the idea is no so out there any longer.