'In control' - Simon Jordan wades into Jack Grealish contract debate amid Manchester City interest

The Premier League champions are reportedly ready to make a huge offer for Grealish, although Villa remain hopeful of tying the England star to a new deal

Pundit Simon Jordan says Aston Villa can afford to sit tight over the future of Jack Grealish amid continued speculation linking the midfield talisman with Manchester City.

The Premier League champions are reportedly ready to make a huge offer for Grealish, although Villa remain hopeful of tying the England star to a new deal at Villa Park.

Former Crystal Palace chairman Jordan says, despite talks of a £100million offer, Villa hold all the cards and doesn’t even believe the club need to rush Grealish’s new contract, given it has four years left to run.

“With the Jack Grealish situation, it depends what the boy wants,” said Jordan on talkSPORT this morning.

“If he wants to be a Matt Le Tissier [who stayed Southampton his entire career] and stay at a club because he’s comfortable there, he gets a great big bag of money from them, he’s a big fish in a slightly small pond, although Aston Villa are a brilliant football club.

“If they can keep pushing up the league, there’s an argument to say he can play in Europe with Villa.

“They’re going to be supported by the two guys who run the club, who clearly understand football and clearly understand Aston Villa.

“Aston Villa have a degree of control over the situation. What they have is a contract which protects their financial interests.

“Jack Grealish can leave Aston Villa, he just cannot leave without Aston Villa’s permission, economically.

“With the contract they have with Jack Grealish, which has four years left now, they are in control of the situation.

“But it doesn’t stop Jack Grealish from leaving. Man City, or whoever wants him, can put down £100 million, and he’ll probably be going.

“The fact they aren’t prepared to do that is reflective of where the market really is.

“I don’t think Jack Grealish needs to do anything, I don’t think Aston Villa need to do anything. They’ve got four years left on his contract.

“You might think about it [offer him a new contract] next year, but to do it now is playing for the gallery and not necessarily for the benefit.

“The only thing you’re going to get out of putting him on a slightly longer contract is putting him on more money now.”

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