Ex-Aston Villa man Gabriel Agbonlahor is “confident” that Jack Grealish will not move to Manchester City so he can become his boyhood club’s “best-ever player”.
After Grealish shone for Aston Villa last season, he has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City this summer. Pep Guardiola is a big admirer of him and he wants to bring him to the Etihad.
It was revealed last week that City had tabled a £100m offer for Grealish and that is “expected to be accepted” by Villa.
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Unlike Harry Kane, Grealish did show up for training at Villa despite his ongoing links to Man City. Kane has reportedly told the midfielder that he will do “whatever it takes” to seal his move away from Tottenham.
Agbonlahor has had his say on Grealish’s future with Football Insider. He hopes that he decides to stay so he can become Villa’s “best-ever player”:
“It’s a very difficult situation. Earlier on in the transfer window when I saw Emi Buendia come in, I had a little feeling that Villa were being a bit clever and get their business done early before transfers happen.
“Then when I see Leon Bailey, that gave me a bit of a worry. Aston Villa are not going to sign Leon Bailey for him to sit on the bench, he’s going to be a starter. That worried me.
“I just think, he’s probably having talks with the owners who will not want to lose him. I am confident he will stay. He loves Aston Villa, he’s the captain, he’s got into the England squad playing for Aston Villa.
“The club want to keep spending and bringing in players. I’m sure they are not far off matching what Man City can pay, financially. I just hope he will stay.
“He’s already a Villa legend but he can become their best-ever player if he stays.
“I’m just hoping he stays. It’s a long month before the window closes. Villa fans probably wish it would close before the season starts but we’ve got a long month ahead of us.
“We’ve seen these transfers before, one minute it’s on, one minute it’s off. Aston Villa fans have just got to pray everyday that he stays.”