Matt Maher has dropped a promising update on the future of Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish...
What's the talk?
According to Matt Maher of the Express & Star, Aston Villa are determined to keep hold of star player Jack Grealish this summer and will look to rebuff any interest from Premier League champions Manchester City.
The report claims that Villa are preparing to offer him a significant wage increase from the £125k-per-week he is currently earning in an attempt to stop him from completing a switch to The Etihad.
Fans will be buzzing
Villa fans will be buzzing with this update as it is a promising piece of information in regards to the hopes of Grealish remaining at the club beyond the end of the transfer window.
This news comes shortly after Football Insider reported that City are lining up a £90m offer for the midfielder, which is said to have piqued his interest.
However, the club are seemingly ready to counter that by offering him fresh terms. Hopefully, awarding him a lavish new contract will change his mind and convince him to stay ahead of next season. This would leave fans on cloud nine as there is no doubting his importance to Dean Smith's side.
Grealish averaged a WhoScored rating of 7.56 in the Premier League last season, the highest of any Villa player, as he provided six goals and 10 assists from 24 starts.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola made his feelings on Grealish clear back in 2019. The Spaniard called him “incredible” and admitted that he was too expensive to sign at the time.
"He’s incredible.
"A top player. I’m happy he [initially] stayed in the Championship to defend his club.
"He’s a talented player who always creates something.
"An exceptional player but too expensive for Manchester.”
This shows that there has been a long-standing interest from the ex-Barcelona man in Grealish and that level of determination to sign him could be an attractive proposition for the winger.
Villa fans will be hoping, however, that this update on the club's attempts to pin him down to an extended deal will override that and allow them to continue to enjoy watching him dazzle in the Premier League in claret and blue next season.
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