Jack Grealish has been knocking on the door of England’s senior team for a number of years now. After breaking through at his boyhood club Aston Villa, the playmaker has been constantly talked about, with the label of the 'next big thing' constantly attached to him.
There were stages where it all looked to be going wrong for the talented young player, filling the papers with his off-field troubles, as opposed to his actions on the pitch. At the same time, Grealish was stuck battling it out in the Championship, whilst fellow young English midfielders were making a name for themselves above.
However, after being made captain of his beloved Villa and leading them to promoting, the 24-year-old is finally being talked about as one of the brightest talents in the English game.
Seven goals and six assists in the Premier League this season are great numbers for a player in a struggling side. Perhaps more impressive than Grealish’s statistics is his constant work rate and ability to influence any Villa attack. Almost all the club’s attacking play comes through him, and his impact on the pitch is one of the brightest parts of an otherwise dull season for Villa.
Grealish’s performances have warranted all of the chat regarding his chance to represent England, and Gareth Southgate may well give him a chance sooner rather than later. Players such as James Maddison and Mason Mount have earned their spots in the England side and if Grealish was at a club that was also competing for Champions League spots, no doubt he'd be right in there with the Three Lions.
If the Villa captain wants his chance to represent the his country, it is unlikely he will be given the opportunity if he is plying his trade in the Championship, which is exactly where he and his boyhood club look like heading.
In terms of his development and international future, it looks like it is time for Grealish to move on, and there a plenty of potential destinations.
Here we will look at the playmaker’s best options and where the odds are for his next move.