Aston Villa need to keep Grealish in order to boost morale

One of the most important objectives for Aston Villa this summer is to keep Jack Grealish.

Why is it so important?

In the past, the versatile midfielder has struggled with off-field activities.

However, this season, in particular, he has been a crucial member of Steve Bruce’s team.

The 22-year-old, who is valued at £4.5m by Transfermarkt – made 31 appearances in all competitions.

In that time, Grealish created seven assists and scored three goals, and during his injury absence towards the end of the campaign, he was heavily missed.

According to the Express & Star, Villa could be forced to sell a number of players in order to balance the books following their failure to earn promotion to the Premier League.

On Saturday, the midlands outfit were beaten 1-0 by Fulham at Wembley, and even though they failed to reach the promised land, Grealish was a strong performer.

If the midfielder moves on, it would cause a huge blow for Villa, which is the opposite of what they need following their disappointment at Wembley.

Will he leave?

At the age of 22, Grealish is still young enough to wait for a major move elsewhere, but it could be hard for Villa to convince the midfielder to stay put.

The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international will feel that he has the potential to thrive elsewhere.

He has spent his entire career at Villa so far, therefore he has an emotional connection to the club.

However, if Premier League clubs come in for him this summer, Grealish cannot be blamed for having his head turned.