The Red Devils are expected to part ways with an enigmatic figure this summer, and an English playmaker has been touted as a viable replacement.
If Manchester United are able to get £100 million ($123m) for Paul Pogba in the transfer market, they should use the money to bring in Jack Grealish from Aston Villa, in accordance to Andy Gray.
Grealish has been closely linked with a move to Old Trafford in the summer transfer window, after proving himself as one of the most steady performers in the Premier League.
The 24-year-old played a key function in Villa’s promotion bid last season and has effectively transferred that form to the top-flight, contributing seven goals and six assists in 26 appearances.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was full of praise for the English midfielder after his lovely opener set Villa on their way to a well-merited 2-2 draw at the Theatre of Dreams on December 1, which fuelled rumours of a potential transfer.
It has been mentioned that the Red Devils will dip into the market if Pogba moves on to pastures new, amid ongoing rumours of a feasible return to Juventus or a switch to Real Madrid for the Frenchman.
Pogba has missed almost the whole 2019-20 campaign through injury, and publicly admitted to being open to a new challenge away from Manchester last summer.
Gray thinks the 27-year-old has “failed” to live up to his £89m ($109m) price tag since rejoining United back in 2016, and has urged the club to complete a £70m ($86m) swoop for Grealish to substitute the World Cup winner.
“We don’t know how soccer is going to come through this [the coronavirus crisis],” the ex-Villa striker informed the Daily Star.
“We don’t know if soccer is ever going to be the same once more and whether or not It’ll have an effect on player values and salaries. We’re coming into a world of unknowns.
“But when the dust settles, if I could sell Pogba for £100m and bring in Grealish for £70m I would do it in a heartbeat. It’s a no-brainer.
“United nevertheless would possibly be able to get their cash back on Pogba. We know his price commercially and on social media with his millions of followers.
“That’s important to soccer clubs these days and it offers him an added kudos. But fans aren’t absolutely bothered about all that.
“They just want him to make a contribution on the soccer pitch. He’s pretty much failed at United. Is it his own fault or just terrible luck with injuries?
“I think it’s in all likelihood a combination of the two. I don’t know Pogba so I’m not judging his character, I’m judging what he’s brought to United and it’s been nowhere close to enough.
“Real Madrid appears the right fit for him – and his agent has been edging in the direction of that.”
