Manchester City have been urged to ditch the Lionel Messi plan and sign Jack Grealish instead.<\/p>\n
Aston Villa legend Andy Gray believes the Etihad should drop their pursuit of Lionel Messi and try to beat cross-city rivals Manchester United to the signature of England international Jack Grealish.<\/p>\n
After his impressive start to this season\u2019s campaign with Villa, Grealish finally made it into Gareth Southgate’s squad this season.<\/p>\n
United, eager as always to try and sign anyone who\u2019s making the right moves on the pitch, were chasing the playmaker this summer but decided last minute with their usual fickle-mindedness to focus most of their efforts on Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho, who they failed to sign, unsurprisingly, despite the usual drama and the huffing \u2018n puffing.<\/p>\n
Unaccustomed as always to being snubbed, the Red Devils are expected to return for Grealish again possibly as an alternative for Bruno Fernandes.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, City have been hotly touted step up their efforts to snap up Barcelona icon Messi on a free transfer at the end of the season.<\/p>\n
“(There\u2019s) absolutely no danger Jack Grealish could play at the highest level, I don\u2019t think there\u2019s a doubt about that in my opinion,” he told beIN Sports.<\/p>\n
“I think the higher he goes the better he becomes because he\u2019s playing with better players,\u201d Gray said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople says he does too much on the ball at Villa, but he does that because he\u2019s Villa\u2019s most important player and he\u2019s the one that makes things happen nine times out of ten, if he was at Man City, he wouldn\u2019t be, so he\u2019s surrounded by better players and I think he would have more of an impact.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got more of a future (than Messi).<\/p>\n
“Right now if you give me Jack Grealish or Messi, I\u2019m taking Grealish.\u201d<\/p>\n
Guardiola has meanwhile recently recommitted his future to City by penning a contract extension and former Blues ace Trevor Sinclair reckons that is a major hint that Messi will be joining in the summer.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s outstanding news,\u201d Sinclair said of Guardiola\u2019s new contract on the talkSPORT Breakfast. \u201cI think every City fan is going to be buzzing when they hear this news.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot only has he won the trophies, but you think about 100 points, the treble, winning back-to-back Premier League titles\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s done unbelievably well at Manchester City.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd just the fact he can recruit any player in the world excites Man City fans. The relationship between him and Khaldoon [Al Mubarak], the owner, has been superb and there is a lot of trust there.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I think he is happy for the journey to continue.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, you look at what has gone one with him signing a new two-year contract, there are rumours Kevin De Bruyne is going to sign a new contract\u2026 I think Messi is inevitable.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"