Aston Villa have done a brilliant job by offering Jack Grealish a new contract

Aston Villa’s on-field exploits might be forgettable this season but they recently made a huge announcement. According to The Times, star midfielder Jack Grealish has signed a new five-year contract with the club.

The 23-year-old was close to leaving the club only a month ago, amid strong interest from Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur (h/t The Times). However, the north Londoners failed to meet Villa’s asking price, meaning the deal fell through and Grealish stayed put at the Villa Park. And now, he has signed a new and improved contract which has seen his wages rise to £50,000-a-week.

Grealish has been at Aston Villa since the age of 8. Having risen through the youth ranks rapidly, the midfielder made his first-team debut in the 2013/14 season. Since then, he has gone on to make a total of 120 appearances for the club, scoring 9 goals in the process and setting up 16 more.

The Englishman played a key role for Steve Bruce’s side as they chased promotion last season, chipping in with 3 goals and 5 assists in 27 Championship outings. He also managed to set up a goal in three playoff appearances but unfortunately, the Villans’ promotion bid faltered.

Villa haven’t made the best start to their 2018/19 campaign and Grealish has also struggled. In 10 matches across all competitions, the 23-year-old has failed to score a single goal but does have a solitary assist to his name.

Things may not be going well for the midfielder in the ongoing season but there is no taking away the fact that he remains a quality operator. He can play either as a No.10 or on the wings and Grealish is known for his ability to ghost past defenders with his exceptional dribbling skills and ball control.

Speed, technique and the knack of carving out opportunities for his teammates make the former England U21 international a danger in the final third of the pitch. The fact that one of the top six clubs in the Premier League were aggressively chasing his signature all summer indicates how talented Grealish is.

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And by tying him down to a new long-term contract, Villa have ensured that the 23-year-old will continue to blossom at Villa Park for the foreseeable future. And even if the big clubs do come calling, the new contract will place the Midlands outfit in a strong negotiating position, allowing them to get the best possible deal for their prized asset. All in all, this is a brilliant move by Villa.