Jack Grealish has “all the ability in the world” and is the latest English talent to have taken on the ‘next Paul Gascoigne’ moniker, but Danny Mills says the likes of Manchester City will still be asking questions of whether he is right for them.
The Aston Villa playmaker continues to see his stock rise after stepping back up onto a Premier League stage with his boyhood club.
Senior international recognition is expected to come his way at some point, while talk of a big-money transfer continues to swirl despite another window having just closed.
Manchester United have been heavily linked with an approach for another creative influence, while City boss Pep Guardiola has admitted to being a fan of Grealish’s obvious ability.
Former Blues defender Mills is, however, not convinced that a player trying to do “everything for everyone” at Villa has shown the tactical discipline to make him an obvious fit for “top sides”.
The ex-England international told talkSPORT: “Jack Grealish has got all the ability in the world. He’s one of those players, when you look back and we looked at the likes of [Jack] Wilshere and thought he’s going to be the replacement for Paul Gascoigne.
“We have not seen anybody like that, somebody who carries the ball, has an awkward running style at times, but takes the ball, runs at people and makes things happen.
“The only down side for Jack Grealish at the moment is, because he’s in a struggling side, because he loves that club so much, he’s captain, he’s almost trying to do too much.
Getty“At times, which is credit to him, he can be playing right-back, then he’s playing left wing, then he’s getting the ball off the centre-halves, then he’s trying to be up front and score goals and close the keeper down. He’s trying to be everything to everyone.
“Does he have the ability to play for one of those top sides? Without a shadow of a doubt. No question about it. The only thing, and this is probably for England as well, is because he has to play that role for Villa, he has no choice, maybe one or two clubs are thinking ‘is he disciplined enough to play a certain role within the structure of my team?’
“When you look at Manchester City, the way that they play, they all sit in their own little pockets, they very rarely go wandering.
“I know their front three or four players are very fluid, but they all have a certain job to do. Pep Guardiola works on the grid system on the pitch.
“Now, Grealish has the ability. But we don’t know, because we haven’t seen him do that role, because Villa have been poor and he’s trying to carry them and keep them up, I think that’s the only question for Jack Grealish – does he have that discipline? He probably does, but someone is going to have to take a chance on him.”
Grealish has contributed nine goals and seven assists to the Villa cause this season, helping them to book a Carabao Cup final date with City while also battling to preserve their Premier League status.