Villa already have the “real deal” to replace Grealish, making them the biggest potential since. An additional star: perspective
This season, Aston Villa has excelled, as seen by their current Premier League position of fourth.
They were eliminated from the FA Cup, though, after a depressing 3-1 home loss to Chelsea this week.
Although the midfield may have cost them the tie, there was a late-game display of talent from a replacement that Unai Emery may want to use more of going forward.
Jack Grealish made his Premier League debut for Villa away to Manchester City on May 7, 2014, marking the beginning of his journey to become a Villans legend. Grealish has been with his childhood club since he was six years old.
During the next two seasons, as the team struggled on the pitch and ultimately lost to relegation, the winger would primarily play as a substitute.
But it was at this point that Grealish matured into the player he is today, winning the captaincy and helping the team he plays for win the Premier League in 2019.
Over 213 appearances, Grealish scored 65 goals for Villa; his greatest season was in the 2020–21 Premier League, when he scored six goals and sent out 10 assists. Due to this, he was able to sign for Manchester City for £100 million, making him the second-most expensive player in Premier League history.
The 28-year-old has since developed into a vital member of Pep Guardiola’s team, playing a regular role for England and helping them win the treble the previous season.
The best potential since Grealish could be waiting in the wings for Emery.
The future of Tim Iroegbunam at Villa
Even though Tim Iroegbunam made his Premier League debut in the 2021–2022 season and made an impression, he was sent on loan to QPR the previous season, where he played 32 games and contributed significantly to the team’s ability to avoid relegation to League One.
Under Emery, he has played 41 minutes this season, including the previous two games for Villa. The six-foot midfielder’s numbers from his time with the Hoops demonstrate the kind of player he is. He can play as a defensive midfielder or as a number eight.
A few appearances in the Championship for a team that frequently went extended periods without the ball hindered this England gem from displaying much of his on-the-ball skills, but he still demonstrated his ability to carry the ball with ease.
He did, however, rank strongly for tackles won and passes blocked, demonstrating his excellent game reading, which did allow him to demonstrate his ability to hold his own, particularly when the ball is out of his hands.
It is hardly surprising that PGR, an analyst and writer, called Iroengbunam the “real deal,” given his profile’s ideal replacement for Douglas Luiz, who has been linked to a move away from the team, maybe to Arsenal.
