HalfTimePost Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 (edited) Percys story about Jack from this morning has been updated from the 'more to follow' it ended with earlier. This is the new bits, linking us to Sarrhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2021/07/30/exclusive-manchester-city-make-jack-grealish-transfer-bid-100million/ Quote Though Smith and Villa will be bitterly disappointed to lose him, they have already identified a number of options to replace Grealish in the event of him being sold. Watford's Ismaila Sarr is understood to be one of their preferred choices, while they also admire Norwich's Todd Cantwell and Bayer Leverkusen's Jamaica international Leon Bailey. Villa have held talks this week with Leverkusen over a deal to sign Bailey but the prospect of raking in £100 million from the Grealish sale could see them prioritise other signings. James Ward-Prowse, the Southampton midfielder, has emerged as another potential target though the south-coast club rejected a £25 million proposal from Villa on Friday. Southampton are also insistent that Ward-Prowse, an England international, is not for sale in this transfer window. Villa have already smashed their own transfer record this summer with the £33 million capture of Emiliano Buendia from Norwich City. Guardiola, meanwhile, will be extremely satisfied with the recruitment of Grealish, after publicly admitting his admiration in the past. Kevin De Bruyne, City's Belgium international midfielder, is also thought to be a huge fan of the Birmingham-born player. Since winning the title City are yet to make any major squad additions but Grealish will represent a huge statement of intent as they aim to defend the Premier League crown. Guardiola begins the new campaign next Saturday in the Community Shield against Leicester City at Wembley. They then face Tottenham in their opening Premier League game on Sunday August 15. Analysis: the development Aston Villa fans feared last summer Grealish has been Villa's undisputed star man since their return to the Premier League, and the focal point of the club's ambition. He had arguably his best ever season in the last campaign, producing his best numbers despite missing much of the second half of the campaign with an injury. At Euro 2020, he also impressed for England and appeared comfortable on the international stage under Gareth Southgate. This is unquestionably the development Villa fans have feared all summer. Villa's owners, Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, are targeting a place in European football in years to come and Grealish is the player who they hoped would spearhead their quest. This move from Guardiola now threatens those plans after finally making his much-anticipated move for Grealish, whose association with Villa began at the age of six. Grealish will be 26 in September and is yet to play in European football at club level, which appears to be a major factor in what happens next. He holds his own personal ambitions and will know that a move to the Etihad will guarantee him the Champions League in September. If Grealish does move, which now looks inevitable, there is no doubt that Villa will be very active in trying to ensure Dean Smith can continue progressing. Villa have already spent around £250 million in the last three years and the target of European football will not change, even without the player the fans call Super Jack. Edited July 30, 2021 by HalfTimePost 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aston_Villan4 Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KAZZAM Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 Proof Percy doesnt know anything just like any other 'sports journalist'. Just rehashing old names at this stage. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HalfTimePost Posted July 30, 2021 Author Share Posted July 30, 2021 5 minutes ago, KAZZAM said: Proof Percy doesnt know anything just like any other 'sports journalist'. Just rehashing old names at this stage. What? He's just confirmed everything we know so far, plus I don't believe we've been linked to Sarr in a long time. Confirmed interest in Sarr is new, as is Cantwell which had been tenuous links at best. Confirmed bids for JWP and Bailey too. That we did know but there's always people who will never believe until Percy says and now he has. Just because we don't like it doesn't make it not true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
His Name Is Death Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 Pfft. Disappointing if true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Awol Posted July 30, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted July 30, 2021 4 minutes ago, His Name Is Death said: Pfft. Disappointing if true. Villa Legend Jack Grealish has dropped our club right in the s*it, the boys are free-styling now with 2 weeks until the season starts. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HanoiVillan Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 I hope we're not just going to splurge all of the money on a load of bottom half PL/top half Championship players. I guess signing Sarr and Cantwell would at least weaken two bottom half rivals. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chindie Posted July 30, 2021 VT Supporter Share Posted July 30, 2021 3 minutes ago, HanoiVillan said: I hope we're not just going to splurge all of the money on a load of bottom half PL/top half Championship players. I guess signing Sarr and Cantwell would at least weaken two bottom half rivals. This is Villa. Take the most disappointing outcome, make it slightly worse, and accept it. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
His Name Is Death Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 5 minutes ago, HanoiVillan said: I hope we're not just going to splurge all of the money on a load of bottom half PL/top half Championship players. I guess signing Sarr and Cantwell would at least weaken two bottom half rivals. Maybe it's what clubs call 'prudent' spending these days. Hasn't served us too badly so far, but we can't keep doing it forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaVilla Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 nothanks.gif 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post dont_do_it_doug. Posted July 30, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted July 30, 2021 You lot are strange sometimes. I know you're on a bit of a Grealish comedown right now but we probably need to realise quickly that we're not going to replace him like for like. Sarr is a very classy footballer and would be a fantastic signing. He can play left, right and up front in a pinch. He's 23. Would be a superb addition to our rebuild. 5 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dont_do_it_doug. Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 42 minutes ago, His Name Is Death said: Maybe it's what clubs call 'prudent' spending these days. Hasn't served us too badly so far, but we can't keep doing it forever. He'll probably cost about £50m bro. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turvontour Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 1 hour ago, His Name Is Death said: Pfft. Disappointing if true. I hope that's Sarrcasm. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enda Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 Timing of Terry’s departure looking more and more “coincidental”. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
useless Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 Sarr would be a stupendously wicked signing, I've always associated players of his type with the very best Villa sides of days gone by, that is pacey players that can run past the opposition at speed, excite the crowd, and make things happen. I've felt that we've needed some genuine speed in our team for a while, so see it as a good sign that we're being linked with this player and Leon Bailey. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwivillan Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 Sarr plays same position we already have Buendia and Traore. Rubbish link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KMitch Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 1 hour ago, Kiwivillan said: Sarr plays same position we already have Buendia and Traore. Rubbish link So does Bailey... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwivillan Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 52 minutes ago, KMitch said: So does Bailey... 96 on left vs 41 on right for Bayer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delphinho123 Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 3 hours ago, Kiwivillan said: Sarr plays same position we already have Buendia and Traore. Rubbish link You know what happened last time you rubbished a link… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvfcRigo82 Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 Is this even a genuine link? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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