Jack Grealish to Aston Villa transfer verdict delivered as Liverpool legend makes claim

Aston Villa would be an 'obvious' choice for Jack Grealish should he leave Manchester City, admits England and Liverpool legend Michael Owen.

Grealish has been linked with a sensational return to Villa Park but face competition from Tottenham Hotspur. Football Insider claim that the reigning Premier League champions are 'willing to listen' to offers for Grealish with manager Pep Guardiola 'not completely convinced' on a player they forked out £100million for.

The 28-year-old is on course to win his third consecutive Premier League title with the Citizens top of the league heading in to the final day. He has been limited to 20 appearances in the league however and has only six goal contributions this season. The Birmingham-born attacker has three-years remaining on his contract but he could be moved on from the Etihad this summer and with Villa qualifying for the Champions League, a return to his boyhood club could be a possibility.

Michael Owen was speaking to BoyleSports, who offer the latest EURO 2024 odds said: "If City want to part ways with him and he's accepting of that, then Villa would be the obvious choice for Grealish. I could see that.

"I think he is unique, he looks like he loves it at City so you might have to prize him away as he's winning trophies. And he's such a good person he won't give you any trouble if he's playing or not. I really admire Jack. I'd be surprised if he left."

Since leaving Villa three years ago, Grealish has gone on to win two Premier League titles, a FIFA Club World Cup, one FA Cup and a UEFA Champions League. Michael Owen like Grealish knows fully well what it’s like to be involved in a high profile transfer.

Owen, the last British winner of the prestigious Ballon d'Or back in 2021 moved to Real Madrid for a reported £8m with Antonio Núñez going the other way. He also featured for clubs like Newcastle United and Manchester United. The 44-year-old spoke highly of Grealish and spoke about the elements of Grealish’s game that he enjoys the most.

The 89-cap international who boasted 40 goals at international level said: "Grealish is a great player and he could fit into most teams, I love Jack and I think he's a great lad too, a great ambassador for football. So I don't want to say anything negative, but I must admit when he signed for City I didn't really think he was the right fit for them.

"At Villa, he used to pick up the ball, run the length of the pitch, invariably win a foul, Villa would put the ball down, the big guys would come up, they would send the ball in and it would be a set piece.

"Everything went through him. City don't want to be fouled, if they get fouled they cannot kick the ball fast enough to start play again, they don't want to cross the ball from wide areas for their big players.

"It actually slows them down. When Jack is in really good form it is when he does things really quickly. It is a different style and he has had to adapt. He's a unique player in what he does and he would really suit teams in how they want to play. But it won't suit other teams who play quickly on the counter."