Aston Villa have spent big over the last two years, reinvesting their influx of money in an attempt to replace Jack Grealish’s phenomenal output.

He became a hero at Villa Park, bursting through the academy under Paul Lambert whilst being a boyhood fan and going on to captain the club to promotion back to the Premier League.

His sensational performances are the tip of the iceberg as to why he was so deified by fans, so when he left it understandably stung, even if it was for a mouth-watering £100m fee.

His departure saw a slew of attacking talent brought in, with the most underwhelming of the bunch being Leon Bailey, due to his injury woes.

The Jamaican came with a big reputation from Germany but has managed just 27 games, scoring three and assisting three more.

Tasked with replacing the “scary” qualities that Kalvin Phillips bestowed upon Grealish, it was an impossible task when compared to his final season in the Midlands.

He scored six times and assisted 12, helping Villa to an 11th-placed finish. It is even crazier that he only managed 26 league games this campaign.

To have him in Steven Gerrard’s current underperforming side, who have scored just seven goals in nine games, would have been ideal. Alas, he is no longer an option to call upon.

Admittedly, Grealish has struggled since moving to Manchester City as he surrendered the notion of being a big fish in a small pond for the chance to win every trophy available.

Last season he managed just three goals and three assists in the league, a huge decline from his performances during his final season at Villa Park.

Phillips also dubbed the winger a “dream teammate”, and it would certainly be a dream for Aston Villa to have him back as they wallow in 16th.

To add his leadership and love for the club back into a side that seems stagnant would likely be the fuse to reignite them.

To see him depart was inevitable when the unlimited money of the Cityzens come calling, but with both club and player having declined since the move, perhaps it would be mutually beneficial to reunite them.

Villa fans would certainly be in favour of this, to finally add some much-needed consistent creativity to feed the likes of Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins.