Stan Collymore has now given his verdict on Jack Grealish one day returning to Aston Villa, with the forward hardly featuring for Manchester City this season.
The England international left Villa Park in 2020 for a then-British record transfer worth £100m, though this campaign has seen Grealish drop out of favour in Pep Guardiola’s squad for Jeremy Doku.
Steve McManaman lauded the Belgian after yesterday’s draw against Liverpool, and for Collymore via CaughtOffside, Grealish could return to Villa, though the pundit opposes a move.
Collymore said about Grealish’s potential return: “I really like Grealish. He’s a top player and an even nicer human being but as a Villa fan would I take him back? No, I don’t think I would.
“I don’t think Unai Emery would embrace Grealish coming back. He did exceptionally well during his time there and most fans will always be thankful, but the club has moved on since then. We’re in a different position with different goals and I just think digging up the past rarely proves beneficial.
“And not only that, who’s to say Grealish even wants to come back to Villa? He might want to challenge himself in one of Europe’s big leagues, or he might have eyes on a lucrative Saudi deal. Who knows. Either way, a move back to Villa? No, not for me.”
Aston Villa should want Jack Grealish if he leaves Manchester City
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Give the direction Villa are going in under Unai Emery, there might be a feeling from some fans that Grealish is no longer needed if the Villa Park side are to compete with England’s elite.
Yet it’s easy to forget just how good Grealish is and how incredible the forward was for Villa upon their return to the Premier League, with the winger exactly the sort of player who could thrive under Emery.
Whilst minutes have been limited this season, Grealish is still a world-class player and one of the best forward talents in the Premier League.
And if given the chance, Villa should bite City’s hand off to bring Grealish back to Birmingham, where the attacker could be influential once again at Villa Park.