I think Villa have done everything on their part to possibly keep Grealish. They’ve offered him an improved contract and are spending big on improving the side.
I personally don’t think it will be enough to get them into the top 4 but finishing in the top 8 should be a realistic goal for Villa. Is that enough to keep Grealish happy though?
The big thing working against Villa at the moment is the cult status Grealish received during the Euros and the upcoming WC.
The Euros is the prime example of how an international tournament can turn a player into a marketing dream. Jack is at his highest marketable stock right now. A move to a CL club, playing regular football and winning trophies will take him to another level.
Having another good season at Villa might not even guarantee him a starting place in the WC side, especially with Sancho joining United and Foden, Mount and Bellingham all having more experience. There are a lot of players for England competing with Grealish who are younger, have the potential to be better and are playing in the CL.
I suppose that’s the gamble Grealish has to take and in a way, it’s unfortunate for Villa that there’s not a two-year gap before the next international tournament.
I think Leicester are the perfect blueprint for Villa. They sold their key players for top money, reinvested in the squad and become stronger for it. If Villa end up with Buendia, Cantwell and Bailey but sell Grealish, I think they’d be a much stronger side than last season.