When it comes to transfers this summer, Manchester United’s reported pursuit of Jack Grealish is likely to be the saga which drags out.
The Mirror reported last month that Grealish was a key transfer target for United with a £70 million fee touted.
The MEN even claimed United were desperate to seal a move by mid-March before he was named in the England squad and his price tag rocketed.
The landscape has now changed considerably and we believe a move for Grealish could be one of the last pieces of business United end up doing – if it happens at all.
Dependent on other deals
The financial situation in football will have changed due to the national economic impact of businesses shutting down during this unprecedented break.
United will attempt to get a deal done for top target Jadon Sancho as a priority, see how much that costs, and then move onto others.
Grealish could be deemed an unnecessary expense if money is tight and Paul Pogba stays.
There is no guarantee a big offer will come in for Paul Pogba, he has not started a game since September, and no tempting bids came in last year.
If United cannot generate cash from his sale, and there is little point in selling him for a bargain price, then a move for Grealish could be put on hold.
In the event a Pogba deal is somehow agreed, it is going to take a while. Only after that would United move onto Grealish.
Villa’s status unclear
One of the big uncertainties is which division Aston Villa will be playing in next season.
At present they are in the relegation zone and if results stand or are predicted by an expected points total, they could go down.
If the season is voided, they would stay up, and if the season resumes, anything is possible.
In the event a decision is made which relegates them without playing, Villa could appeal. This could delay everything, and while Grealish may want to move on, the club would likely not sanction an exit until their status is resolved.
Brinksmanship
This is where it could get really messy. If Aston Villa are relegated, their financial situation will be dire.
United are tough negotiators and seem to enjoy the brinksmanship of dragging deals out for the cheapest possible price, as we saw last summer and in January.
With Villa in a weak position, expect United to try and take advantage of this and secure Grealish for way below the £70 million fee touted last month.
Villa could try to get other clubs involved and generate a bidding war for their top asset.
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