Arsenal legend Gilberto Silva believes Aston Villa attacking midfielder Jack Grealish would have been a fantastic signing for the Gunners.
The England international, who has been linked with Manchester City and Manchester United, is in excellent form this season and Silva thinks Arsenal should have tried to sign the playmaker in the summer:
“Grealish, amazing. It seems like he could be a player that Arsenal missed. With his ability, he was one of the guys in the middle who can play beautiful football. He controls the ball, assists and can score goals. He is slightly different from Dennis Bergkamp, but he could be somebody for the future at Arsenal.”
Even before he signed his new five-year contract back in September, Grealish’s price tag was thought to be close to £80m, and fans on Twitter think at that price, signing him was never a realistic possibility :
Bit late now, price has doubled with the way he’s playing ??♂️
— Stephen Pears (@pears81) November 14, 2020
Arsenal can not afford Grealish,that’s the fact.
— ashton (@ashton55576822) November 14, 2020
There is no way Arsenal pay £80m for him
— JL (@JR94__) November 14, 2020
They asked for 70 mill when he was in a relegation fight last season! They probably rate him at 180 mill now…??
— jego416 (@Topends14) November 14, 2020
For the future? We needed him a year ago
— James Tarrant (@jamestarrant83) November 14, 2020
Yeah before he signed a new 5 year deal
— Mugz (@Mugheesabid) November 14, 2020
He’s just extended his contract. We have to pay big to get him.
— Ting (@thountula) November 14, 2020
Arsenal won’t spend 70 mil on him so forget it
Let’s just admire from the back
— Jeshurun?? (@ansah_nana) November 14, 2020
Considering the Gunners’ recent struggles in the final third of the pitch, a move for Grealish may have been a good idea in hindsight but manager Mikel Arteta had other priorities.
While Grealish would have been a very good addition to the squad, there are more economical alternatives available on the transfer market anyway such as Red Bull Salzburg’s Dominik Szoboszlai and Inter Milan’s Christian Eriksen.