Sven Goran Eriksson claims Aston Villa doubled their money on attacker amid ‘£51m’ claim

Former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson has claimed that Jack Grealish is only worth around half of the £100 million Aston Villa received for him from Manchester City last summer.

The winger left his boyhood club for the Premier League champions in a big money switch last June, with the Villans securing a British record fee for his services.

Since then, however, Grealish has endured a mixed time at the Etihad Stadium.

The 27-year-old helped City to a sixth Premier League title earlier this year, but has struggled for form of late, and has produced just 11 goal involvements in 45 matches over the course of his fledgling career in Manchester.

As such, questions have been asked about the price tag attached to Grealish’s Villa exit, with Eriksson the latest pundit to voice his doubts.

Speaking to Boylesports, about the player’s involvment in Gareth Southgate’s England plans, the Swede said: “I think he still deserves his call-up.

“If he would be the starter in the 11, I don’t know, but technically he’s very good, one against one he’s very good. He’s doing different things.

“Is he worth all that money? I don’t know.

“How much did they [City] pay for Haaland? £51m? He’s worth that!”

In recent days, Grealish has made headlines following comments from Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness in which he claimed that the attacker is “a good footballer, not a great player”.

In response, Grealish said: “I don’t know what his problem is with me.

“He always says stuff about me. But I try not to read a lot of it. It is difficult, you know, when he’s on Sky Sports and it’s everywhere around the training ground at times.

“Listen, he was obviously a great player and won a lot but I know he has a lot of stuff to... I don’t know what it is with what he says about me or what problem he’s got. I know my own ability.”

Grealish was introduced as a substitute in England’s 1-0 defeat to Italy on Friday evening, but picked up a yellow card, and will now be suspended for Monday’s clash with Germany.