GREAL DEA L Hourihane tips team-mate Jack for a move straight into the big time and admits ex-irish under-21 star is too good for Villa
Games for Villa
JACK GREALISH will “deserve everything he gets” if he joins a Premier League heavyweight this summer.
That is the view of clubmate and Ireland midfielder Conor Hourihane who yesterday sparked fresh speculation over Grealish’s future.
Not least if second-frombottom Villa are relegated from the Premier League, sparking a scramble for the £70 million ace.
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen to add tenacity and creativity to his midfield ranks.
And the Aston Villa skipper – and one time Ireland prospect – is on the radar along with Borussia Dortmund’s
Jadon Sancho, Leicester’s James Maddison and Schalke’s Rabbi Matondo.
Hourihane has risked the wrath of Villa fans by suggesting for a second time that their talisman may be on his way.
But Hourihane believes his team-mate will “deserve everything he gets” should a move materialise.
“Jack is obviously hugely talented, he’s our talisman and he’s had a fantastic season,” said the Villa midfielder.
“He’s been linked with so many clubs, lots of top teams around Europe. It’s going to be a tough summer and a tough decision for Jack.
“Hopefully, first and foremost, he keeps us up – that is the most important thing for the football club.
“And then, whatever Jack decides to do, that’s up to him. He deserves everything he gets.”
Had things panned out differently, Hourihane and Grealish, 24, would have been international team-mates for Ireland. But despite playing underage for the Boys in Green, Birmingham lad Grealish rejected Martin O’neill’s advances and chose to declare for England.
He has yet to be capped by Gareth Southgate but is waiting patiently and it appears to be only a matter of time before he makes his bow.
“For me, he should be in the England squad as well because he has something that nobody else does, in my opinion,” Hourihane told Sky Sports today.
Some Manchester United fans felt Grealish dropped a hint last week about his summer intentions by liking a post from the Red Devil’s official Instagram account.
And this is the second time during lockdown that
Hourihane has raised the possibility of Grealish leaving this summer – and it is riling Villa fans.
Speaking to the Southern Star podcast, Hourihane said Grealish has “taken his game to another level”.
He added: “He’s just got that gift. He runs quicker with the ball, when he faces someone up you’re in real trouble.
“He’s skipping by the best players in this league so easily.
“He’s developed over the three years I’ve been here – he’s taken his game to a new level – especially this year in the Premier League.
‘He’s taken it by storm really. The England team and getting that big move is only a matter of time because, if I’m being brutally honest, he’s too good for our Villa team.”