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Alan Hutton issues 'impossible' warning to Aston Villa over Man Utd target Jack Grealish
Aston Villa have been warned that they could face the "impossible" task of keeping hold of Manchester United transfer target Jack Grealish this summer.
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Aston Villa have been warned it will be "impossible" to keep Manchester United transfer target Jack Grealish at the club this summer if they are relegated from the Premier League. That is the view of former Villa star Alan Hutton.
Hutton, who made over 200 appearances for Villa, believes the only way Villa can think about keeping hold of Grealish this summer is to secure their Premier League status this season.
Villa are currently 19th in the table and are two points from safety.
Sixteen of the 20 Premier League teams have nine games remaining to play, and four have 10 left.
The Midlands’ club are one of the four teams with a game in hand and if they win this it would see the rise to 16th in the table.
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However, before football was suspended Villa were on a run of four straight defeats, with their last win coming in a 2-1 victory over Watford on January 21.
Villa's club captain Grealish has been putting in impressive performances for his boyhood club this season, despite being in the midst of a relegation battle.
His nine goals and eight assists in 31 appearances in all competitions have attracted the attention of United, with Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looking to add to his attacking options this summer.
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According to the Mirror, Villa are determined not to let Grealish leave for less than their £80million valuation, even if they are relegated from the Premier League.
However, Hutton feels his former club will not be able to keep Grealish at Villa Park if they drop down to the Championship.
“It depends on how Aston Villa are going to stand on it – are they going to stand tough and say no, that’s it? A lot is going to depend on what league they’re in," Hutton told Football Insider.
"There is no way Jack can continue playing at Villa if Villa get relegated, it’s impossible.
“It’s going to be a very tough decision.
"I know it’s going to be tough for him, he’s Villa through and through, his family are Villa through and through so it’s going to be hard.
“For his future, he deserves to be at a top-four club in my opinion.”
Villa are determined not to be bullied over their valuation of Grealish, who they see as being on par with United's club captain Harry Maguire.
If Villa returns to the Championship, after just one season in the top-flight, Grealish could face the unenviable task of requesting a move for the sake of his career.