Pundit claims that Man City star Grealish ‘might end up back at Villa’ next season
Man City winger Jack Grealish could return to Aston Villa at the end of this season if he doesn’t improve, according to Tony Cascarino.
The England international didn’t have the greatest of first seasons at the Etihad Stadium last term following his £100m move from Aston Villa.
Grealish scored 14 goals and contributed 16 assists in his last two Premier League seasons for Villa and even better was expected from him at Man City.
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But Grealish was underwhelming under Pep Guardiola last term with the 26-year-old only contributing three goals and three assists 26 Premier League fixtures.
Former Chelsea striker Cascarino has gone a bit far, though, by suggesting that Man City will give up on the £100m signing if he doesn’t do much better this season.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Cascarino said: “At the end of the season, if he doesn’t pick up his standards, what we know he’s capable of and why they paid £100m for him, he’ll probably be loaned out or he might end up back at Villa.
“He’s not playing well enough consistently for Man City. I’m not talking about being OK, six out of tens. He should be eight or nine. He’s got so much quality.”
He added: “Jack has got an issue. You can’t be a £100m player and be OK, your standard is higher than that. City’s standard is higher than that and he has been six out of ten too often.”
But Cascarino isn’t the only person who reckons this season will be huge for Grealish with former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson expecting the winger to get more game time at Man City now Raheem Sterling has left.
Robinson told Football Insider: “Grealish will play more. It opens a door for him in that sense. It will be his time to step up and his time to shine.
“He admitted himself that he found it different, not difficult, but different last year. He was not the main man. Rather than being the main player, he was a cog in a wheel.
“I think he is slowly learning about what Pep Guardiola wants. He is growing into the role. Next season will be a big season for him, especially with Raheem Sterling moving on.”
Man City lost to Liverpool 3-1 on Saturday in the Community Shield final with late goals from Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez tipping the tie in the Reds’ favour.
