Aston Villa may have kept hold of Jack Grealish for another transfer window but the rumours surrounding his future will not stop.
The captain has been tipped for a move away from Villa Park, with all clubs in the Premier League’s so-called Big Six being linked with the midfielder in the past.
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Grealish committed his future to the club last summer by signing a new long-term contract but it only seems to be a matter of time before a bigger club comes banging on the Villa Park door with big money and Rio Ferdinand has been vocal in his hope that Manchester United sign him.
The 25-year-old will have to make a big decision to make if that happens, something ex-Villa captain Gareth Barry experienced himself in his career.
Barry decided to leave Villa to join Liverpool in the summer of 2008 but it collapsed due to the Reds’ unwillingness to pay the Villans’ £18million asking price. He instead got a move to Manchester City the following summer.
Champions League football was the main reason why Barry wanted to go to Liverpool and he thinks Grealish has to be playing in European competition as soon as possible.
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However, the England international has been told to not worry about what his future just yet.
Barry told talkSPORT.com: “I’d say ‘for now, keep enjoying your football’. He’s captaining his boyhood club and that’s given him the freedom and the confidence that’s been key to the way he’s playing.
“He knows where he is until the end of the season, he should try and get Aston Villa into a European spot. He’ll want to be playing European football and if he can be doing that for Aston Villa next season then that would be fantastic for him and the club.
“But the stories aren’t going to go away, he’s playing too well. It’s not just going to be one team that wants his signature; it’s going to be four or five across Europe.
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“It’ll be interesting times for Jack and for Aston Villa in the summer but looking with a Villa head on it would be great if we see Jack Grealish playing European football for Aston Villa and not anyone else.”
And when asked where Grealish would be best suited if he joined a Big Six side, Barry added: “I would love to see him work under someone like Guardiola.
“That manager could help him learn more about the game, improve more. I’d go for Manchester City if you make me choose one.”
Grealish getting Villa into a European spot isn’t out of the question as they currently find themselves just a point off sixth place.
Villa have made excellent progress since narrowly avoiding relegation from the top flight last season, something that Barry has admitted he’s surprised by.
He added: “The turnaround has been phenomenal, hasn’t it?
“Dean Smith deserves huge credit for identifying the areas and the players needed to be able to do that, he’s been backed by the board and the players are producing for him. I am surprised, they’ve been great to watch.”
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