Ex-Aston Villa striker Stan Collymore believes that Jack Grealish is more likely to join West Ham this summer than return to Villa Park.
The England international, who moved to Manchester City for £100m in 2021, has struggled for game time over the past 18 months but Collymore told Goal that, if he stays in England, he can’t see the likes of Villa, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea or even Newcastle being keen on signing him:
“Jack might end up going somewhere like Saudi because I’m struggling to see a top-four, five or six team that would take him. The traditional top four or five, wages and fee would be a problem.”
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“If you are an aspiring club, Newcastle could go and buy anybody that’s young and hungry and fresh, likewise Villa. If you are one of the clubs like Bournemouth and Brighton, you probably couldn’t afford him. You could probably see him at a club like West Ham, bizarrely, because they have got the money and London as clout.”
“I’m absolutely sure that Unai Emery won’t be going anywhere near Jack Grealish. Great emotional story, but I don’t think it’s going to happen.”
Grealish could thrive under Potter
One of the major reasons that the 29-year-old has found life tough at City is down to Pep Guardiola limiting his freedom on the ball.
Under a different manager like Graham Potter, who could offer him more license to express himself, we may see the Grealish that thrived during his final seasons at Villa.
Of course, as Collymore points out, the winger’s salary could be a problem. He is reportedly earning around £300,000 a week at the Etihad. West Ham’s top earners, Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta, take home half that figure.
West Ham’s left flank is rather weak
With Crysencio Summerville having struggled somewhat since his move from Leeds in the summer, the left wing is definitely a position that Potter will want to strengthen.
It remains to be seen, though, whether Grealish would be considered as a genuine target when you take into account the cost of signing him.
Find out who is in West Ham’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here