Emery should finally get Aston Villa’s best player since Jack Grealish

When Manchester City signed Jack Grealish for £100m in 2021, it could have been felt that they were Aston Villa fans.

Their best player – one of their own – had earned himself a reputation as a long-time hero and now they were set to leave their new mid-table position.

Well, five years later, and life hasn’t gotten any better for the Villans. That £100m no doubt saved them from further PSR trouble and helped them build a side in the vision of Unai Emery, who saw the future of the Champions League.

Meanwhile, despite Grealish winning the series thanks to his time at the Etihad, he currently finds himself on loan at Everton and watching as Villa push for a top four finish.

How Grealish’s sale has changed Aston Villa

Those in the Midlands thought they were losing their main man, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. They welcomed their main man when Emery replaced Steven Gerrard in 2022 and the Spaniard has transformed Aston Villa.

Ultimately, however, that change came from the £100m sale of their school’s qualifications. Over the next three years, Villa welcomed Lucas Digne, Leon Bailey, Philippe Coutinho, Jhon Duran, Morgan Rogers and others. They all played their part and some of them are still playing.

Much has been made of Aston Villa’s finances, but the record book doesn’t lie. Grealish’s departure has allowed them to break their transfer record five times since 2021 – leading to their rise into the Premier League’s top six.

Now, it’s time for them to cash in again and sell their best player since graduating to a big-money center.

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Aston Villa must sell Emery favourite

Grealish’s departure was painful at the time, but it was an excellent decision for those at Villa Park. Now, it’s time to make the same call about Ollie Watkins.

There won’t be a £100m fee, because it’s not really about the money in this case. Rather, it is about maintaining a legacy. Knowing when to leave. And for Watkins, that time should be now.

His insults in England are the first sign, but Watkins’ problems have been clear for some time. It speaks volumes that Tammy Abraham was able to challenge her position in a mainstream way.

It’s not the striker who scored 16 Premier League goals last season, and it’s not the striker who scored against the Netherlands at Euro 2024. However, this is the striker who has scored two goals in the last ten league games.

By all metrics, the 30-year-old has fallen short this season and if an offer does come this summer, Aston Villa should look to cash in before landing a replacement.

The numbers are incredibly concerning. Watkins has gone from one of the most clinical forwards in the league – he’s doing better than his xG – to a struggling player who looks like he’s going beyond his best.

There is no denying his heroics at Villa Park. It would not be unreasonable to suggest that he will go down as a greater hero than Grealish, but the decline is clear to all.

It’s not just in front of goal that his impact has waned, either. Watkins has also gone from one of Villa’s main creators to a player with one assist to his name this season.

Donyell Malen aside, Villa have the same players around them up front, who fail to bring others into play.

With over 20 shots so far this season on top of that, all indications are that Watkins is not where Emery needs him and it should come as no surprise that his influence has diminished as a result.

If Emery can’t find a solution, he has to cash out this summer.

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