On August 6, Manchester City decisively activated the release clause of England star Jack Grealish for a massive £100 million transfer fee to acquire the winger from Aston Villa.
Jack Grealish's outstanding performance was on full display in the European Cup. Whenever Coach Southgate sends him into the field, England's offense is like a wild horse out of control, Sterling is like a fish out of water on the side, and Luke Shaw is able to press forward and pass quickly with Grealish's ability to control the ball. although Grealish did not make the breakthroughs that he is good at in league matches, he helped England break down many opponents with his accurate distribution and passing.
Despite England's defeat to Italy in the final, Grealish's performances have won him recognition in European football as a sought-after player in the Premier League market.
Manchester City were interested in acquiring Grealish during the Europa League, but at the time, the lead of the City transfer rumors was Harry Kane, and with Harry Kane's transfer negotiations with Tottenham Hotspur at a standstill, Grealish appeared to be the alternative.
Now, Harry Kane and Tottenham Hotspur's transfer issues are still unresolved, with Spurs unwilling to release him and Harry Kane on strike. It seems that the transfer deal may not be finalized until the transfer window closes.
Manchester City, on the other hand, have put on the agenda the acquisition of Grealish, a 25-year-old Aston Villa-produced central midfielder with excellent dribbling and ball-protecting abilities, capable of playing in a number of positions, including left winger, left midfielder and attacking midfielder.
On the attacking end, Grealish has shown his "smart" strength, good at using his heel and flick to finish the ball, very fast, making the opposing defenders unable to defend. He also has a keen sense of scoring, with a precise shot on goal and the ability to create chances for his teammates by faking a pass or intentionally missing the ball.
Grealish, who played for Aston Villa for eight years, was a key player in Villa's youth set-up. From the 16/17 season, he played almost every season at Villa. In the 19/20 season, Villa returned to the Premier League, and Grealish began to make a name for himself on the Premier League stage.
At Villa, Grealish wears the number 10 shirt and has become the team's leading attacker. Over the past two years, he has become one of the leading homegrown midfielders in the Premier League.
Last season, Grealish collected 6 goals and 10 assists, ranking fourth in the Premier League with 10 assists and tied for 14th with 16 goals made. If you exclude pure strikers and starters from the giants, Grealish is undoubtedly a top five scorer in the Premier League. For Guardiola, Grealish is a midfielder who can immediately fit into the team and has Premier League experience.
City had no hesitation in making the purchase, with Pep Guardiola's successful revamping of the team last year allowing them to win the Premier League title despite player injuries and suspensions for pneumonia. The Champions League final was lost to Chelsea, but City still finished as runners-up. City's management gave Guardiola a lot of power, and this transfer is completely in line with Guardiola's requirements.
