Jack Grealish told fans would love perfect transfer to Premier League club
Gabby Agbonlahor has insisted the majority of Aston Villa fans would welcome Jack Grealish back at the club.
The 30-year-old is facing an uncertain future, having returned to Manchester City this summer after Everton opted not to take up the £50million buy option in his loan deal.
Having fallen out of favour at the Etihad Stadium before moving to the Toffees, it is currently unclear whether Grealish will be given a chance to prove himself under new boss Enzo Maresca.
This has fed speculation that the Englishman could leave permanently this summer, with City keen on selling him as he is entering the final year of his contract.
While talkSPORT understands Grealish is drawing interest from Saudi side Al Hilal, he would prefer to stay in the Premier League.
Another potential next destination which has been mooted is former club Aston Villa, five years on from his £100million exit.
Grealish joined the Citizens from boyhood club Villa in 2021 for a then British record transfer, having established himself as a cult hero during his time at the club.
After rising through the youth ranks at Villa Park, the forward went on to become captain, leading his team back to the Premier League in 2019 after a three-year absence, before starring for them in next two years in the top flight.
A move could also be advantageous for Villa, who are keen to strengthen their forward line after losing star man Morgan Rogers to Chelsea in a new British record £117m move.
Happy homecoming?
While Grealish left Villa fans heartbroken when he left for City five years ago, talkSPORT host and club icon Agbonlahor has insisted he would be welcomed back with open arms should he choose to return.
Agbonlahor said: “I would love him to come back, but it’s a question for if Jack wants to come back, it’s a question if the manager wants Jack.
“I think he’d love to come back to Villa, yeah. He’s a Villa fan. He loves Aston Villa. I would have him back tomorrow.
Despite tipping Grealish for a homecoming, Agbonlahor admitted Villa boss Unai Emery may have different plans for his team, pointing to the recent loan signing of Alejandro Garnacho.
He continued: “But has the manager got other ideas for that left-hand side? We are short in that position, 100 per cent.
“I’d take Jack over Garnacho any day. All day, every day of the week.”
Continuing to state a case for Grealish to return, Agbonlahor insisted that he left Villa on good enough terms to be welcomed back.
That is despite the England international being booed by his old fans on his return to Villa Park with Man City in 2021.
On Grealish’s 2021 exit, Agbonlahor continued: “It was no problem. There was a release clause in the contract that he left. I think the majority of them would [take him back], yeah.
“I reckon 90-95 per cent of Villa fans would say yes. If he’s going to make our team better, he’s a Villa fan. And let’s not forget, he didn’t leave in a bad situation. He got the club £100million.
“They used that money elsewhere. Exactly. So I think it would be an amazing signing.
“Just down to the manager, if he wants him, it’ll be interesting.”
Despite this, Agbonlahor admitted it remains a possibility that Grealish could yet stay at Man City, if he is given a second chance under new boss Maresca.
He added: “I think there’s a chance that he does stay at Man City as well. Because he knows Maresca, Maresca was a coach under Pep [Guardiola] as well. So he knows him. He could stay, yeah.”
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