Jack Grealish: Man City transfer target poised to break Premier League record

Manchester City are reportedly prepared to pay up to £100m for Jack Grealish and make him the most expensive signing in the history of English football. So what does the Aston Villa captain offer to command a record-breaking fee?

There was national clamour for Grealish to start for England last season after he shone for a second successive campaign in the Premier League with boyhood club Aston Villa. That sentiment swelled during Euro 2020 when the Villa captain produced two assists during his first three cameo appearances in the competition.

But the clamour had substance beyond his tendency to produce eye-catching, forward-thinking endeavour.

The 25-year-old defines a 'talisman' for Villa, but he was frequently accused of roaming too much when his side's back was against the wall. However, the team slumped when Grealish suffered an innocuous injury in February and ended up missing 14 league starts: Villa's win percentage more than halved without him in the starting XI.

Knack to be hacked

The 'fouls won' statistic appears to have risen to prominence in tandem with Grealish and there is little surprise - his close control drew a league-high 110 fouls last term, some 22 more than any other player - a staggering statistic when you consider he missed a third of the season through injury.

Guardiola would be aware he possesses one of the league's finest free-kick takers in Kevin De Bruyne - who would thrive from a spike in set-piece deliveries. Even when Grealish is not fouled, his talents demand close attention and, in a team like Manchester City, that allows any one of a host of fellow superstars to step into pockets of space.

Besides being fouled a lot and creating space for others, he also belongs to an elite class for creating goals: only De Bruyne registered a superior ratio for assists per 90 minutes last season. Yes, if City sign Grealish they would have the league's top two creators in their ranks - a potent statement of intent for their title defence.

What about Sterling?

What happens to Raheem Sterling if City sign Grealish? Both players prefer operating down the left channel, but the former can also cover up top, while the latter can be used in a No 10 role - so there could be room for both at the club.

The graphic below compares both players against wingers in Europe's top leagues and emphasises how Grealish was among the elite for assists, big chances created, fast breaks, fouls won and passes in the final third.

Silky skills with product

The table below reveals the quality of his end product: only Adama Traore was comparable for creating chances after travelling with the ball at his feet last season.

The majority of his ball carries come from the favoured inside-left channel to drive upfield directly, but he also frequently bamboozles full-backs to cut into the penalty area from the wide-left flank.

Only five players carried the ball at their feet for a greater distance than Grealish in the Premier League last term - three of whom were centre-backs typically edging upfield from deeper positions - while he also ranks among the elite for drives into the box.

High-press elite

Grealish would also offer City so much more. As the interactive table below shows, no current City attacker comes close to the Villa captain for duels and fouls won, which would further strengthen Guardiola's customary high press.

Broken down further, only three players averaged more recoveries per 90 in the attacking third than Grealish last term. Here, De Bruyne pips the Englishman one last time.

Sterling offers a greater goal threat, and De Bruyne is unquestionably the league's finest passer, but Grealish blends the best of both and would attract defenders to create the spaces City like to exploit.

City appear prepared to dig their heels in and stump up a record-breaking fee to prise Grealish from Villa Park after spending almost his entire life at the club, which marks the 20th anniversary this year.

Few would doubt the potential return from that investment and the underlying statistics certainly bode well...

Grealish's X-factor and his special appeal

Sky Sports' Peter Smith…

Aston Villa supporters have been hailing him for years, celebrating a special talent which had emerged from their youth ranks. It took some time for supporters of other clubs to get on board but Jack Grealish and his X-factor has won over all the judges now. At Euro 2020, the sound of England supporters cheering his warm-ups and chanting his name, urging Gareth Southgate to throw him into the action, was the perfect illustration of that.

He appeared for just 137 minutes at that tournament but he was a major story throughout. His two assists and cameos off the bench were a tantalising glimpse of what England had in the locker and drove the conversation about how they should attack.

It is that enticing, exciting game-changing potential which makes him such hot property.

Inside Wembley this summer, the change in approach from opposition defenders when he came into the game was clear to see. They dropped deeper. They doubled up. They looked nervous and wary of what might come next. It's a growing trend we've seen in the Premier League and Grealish's skill, Grealish's reputation has now earned international respect, too.

That tantalising possibility of what Grealish could do at the top end of the Premier League or in the Champions League is clearly question being pondered at Manchester City. The great Pep Guardiola attracted by the potential of greatness from Grealish.

But those deep Villa roots mean Grealish won't be easy to prise away from his hometown club. His iconic status there would be enhanced if he stayed on. It's a pivotal moment in his career and, just like during the Euros, there is real intrigue with what he does next.