Manchester United: a move for Jack Grealish makes no sense

Jack Grealish is a great player, but Manchester United’s interest in him makes no sense, as he is nowhere near the type of player they need.

Despite Aston Villa’s poor standing in the Premier League prior to the COVID-19 football suspension, their captain and star player Jack Grealish has been in fine form all season long, with a nice return of 7 goals and 6 assists in 26 Premier League matches. Grealish’s fine form, coupled with Aston Villa’s potential relegation, means that he has been linked with a transfer away from Villa Park this summer – a move that seems inevitable.

While he has been linked with clubs like Arsenal and Spurs, there’s 1 club that seems to be standing head and shoulders above the rest of the pack in the race for Grealish’s signature – Manchester United.

The Red Devils are in a rebuild, and the possibility of adding a young, talented English player who already has plenty of experience seems like a no-brainer of an opportunity under those circumstances. However, in this case, it’s actually surprising to see Manchester United linked with Jack Grealish – because it actually makes no sense whatever.

Let’s take a look at which positions Jack Grealish is most comfortable in, starting with the number 10 role. This position, behind the striker and spearheading the midfield, is his natural role. Manchester United have recently filled this hole for the long-run with immense quality in Bruno Fernandes. Unless Grealish is going to play 2nd fiddle to the Portuguese international, he isn’t being signed to play there.

This leaves Grealish’s other strong position, left-wing, as the other potential position for him to play in for Manchester United. However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer already has 3 forwards who are far better on the left flank than they are on the right, or through the middle – Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, and Daniel James.

Among Manchester United’s front 4 positions – attacking midfield, left-wing, right-wing, and striker – the 2 strongest positions are left-wing and attacking midfield, the 2 roles Grealish plays.

Manchester United are far weaker on the right flank and at centre-forward than they are at left-wing or attacking midfield, and for that reason alone, potentially signing Jack Grealish seems like yet another foolish, expensive signing from the Old Trafford side. They’d be far better off searching for quality in the weaker 2 positions.