Aniket Rai
Aston Villa contacted Manchester United for Jack Grealish sale before City met release clause
According to The Athletic (Subscription Required), Aston Villa held conversations with Manchester United regarding a transfer for Jack Grealish before his move to Manchester City this summer.
The report mentions that Real Madrid were also contacted as Villa were apparently uninterested in conducting business with the Citizens. However, Grealish’s camp clarified that the player only wanted a move to the Etihad.
Grealish has, of course, signed a £300,000-a-week contract at Man City with bonuses on top of that. Khaldoon Al Mubarak led the negotiations for City which culminated in them meeting his £100million release clause.
While it may sound like a case of sour grapes right now, but looking at the sum being quoted above, perhaps United did not really need a player like Grealish so urgently. Yes, he is a quality player and will strengthen City’s side.
United could have had Grealish
But United have already signed Jadon Sancho for around £73million this summer and have a number of players, such as Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, and Mason Greenwood that can play on the left flank if required.
Bruno Fernandes is already the club’s undisputed number 10. In light of this, it is hard to envisage a scenario where Ole Gunnar Solskjaer signs Grealish and manages to fit him in United’s team without displacing the already established names.
Paul Pogba, if he is at the club for the new season, can be the difference-maker in the centre of the park while Sancho’s addition and Edinson Cavani’s extension gives United’s attack a much-need facelift.
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Grealish would have been an amazing signing but one that United can do without. The fact that he went to United’s rivals is something that may sting the fans, but signing an ex-City player in Sancho should even things out on that front.
