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Pep Guardiola is reportedly planning to give new signing Jack Grealish the number 8 role at Manchester City.
The Premier League champions are on the cusp of completing a record-breaking deal to sign the England international from Aston Villa for a fee of £100 million.
Grealish, who scored six goals and registered 12 assists for Villa last season, is expected to pen a five-year deal with City, with the player arriving in Manchester on Wednesday morning ahead of a medical.
Jack Grealish's £100m move to Man City is edging closer. Medical expected in the next 48 hours. Outside chance of him being available for Saturday's Community Shield if negotiations continue to progress
- John Percy (@JPercyTelegraph) August 4, 2021
We know the 25-year-old is poised to play Champions League football in the coming months as Pep Guardiola's continues to improve his squad, but what position will he decide to play Grealish?
With such an array of attacking options, it is believed the Manchester City boss will use him as a number 8 instead of his usual left-wing position for Aston Villa, according to The Athletic.
The report claims Grealish prefers to play centrally and over the course of the season will be rotated with Ilkay Gundogan in midfield.
Grealish was given a free role by his boyhood club and regularly helped dictate play from out wide or even centrally last season, but it seems Guardiola is keen for him to bring the ball out from deep.
In fact, at the end of last season, the Spaniard expressed his admiration for midfielders who keep the ball.
"I like players with the ability to keep the ball, it is one of the biggest principles I look for," he said. "The ball is the best way to defend and people have to keep the ball in difficult circumstances.
"In all my career, I have played with a lot of midfield players.
"I have the feeling that you can play better with this, but at the same time we need everyone."
:speaking_head: "He's an exceptional player."
Pep Guardiola speaking about Jack Grealish in January 2020 pic.twitter.com/yQpghEsnQX
- Football Daily (@footballdaily) August 4, 2021
Grealish will certainly be able to dictate play alongside the likes of Kevin de Bruyne. Rodri and Fernandinho in the centre, and will also win plenty of free-kicks while carrying the ball.
Last season, Villa's captain was the most fouled play in the Premier League by some distance, setting a league record of being fouled 167 times.
With De Bruyne's pinpoint delivery and Grealish's ability to win a free-kick, don't be surprised to see City score plenty of goals from set-pieces in the coming months.
Thoughts on City's potential new signing? Will he be a success at the Etihad?
Let us know in the comments.
Topics: Manchester City, Aston Villa, Transfers, Jack Grealish, Premier League
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