Jack Grealish has left the door open for a potential return to Aston Villa as two European giants make a move.

The Manchester City ace's future is up in the air as he continues to find regular first-team football hard to come by. Pep Guardiola has also raised concerns over his fitness.

Grealish has only started 11 out of his 20 games in all competitions this season, scoring just the one goal and assisting four times in over 1,036 minutes of action. His strike in City's 8-0 FA Cup win over League Two Salford earlier this month was his first in over a calendar year.

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Asked why Savinho was picked ahead of the 29-year-old against West Ham, Guardiola explained: "Savinho is in better shape and everything than Jack, and that's why I played Savinho. Do I want the Jack that won the treble? Yeah I want it, but I try to be honest with myself for that."

It has led to reports Grealish could be interested in moving away from the Etihad, whether in January or the summer, to get his career back on track. But it sounds like he could be interested in a return to his boyhood club.

Speaking to The Telegraph, he said: "It’s a club that is so close to my heart and I definitely hope to go back there. That’s always been in my mind. Ashley Young has done it and I want to do the same, 100 per cent.”

Grealish signed for Manchester City from Aston Villa for a then-British record transfer fee of £100 million in 2021. He has gone on to win three Premier League titles, one FA Cup, one Champions League, as well as a UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

But the former season ticket holder at Villa Park still has strong ties to the West Midlands, such as his associations with local charities including Birmingham Children's Hospital. He is also still in contact with some of his ex-teammates, including a WhatsApp group with John McGinn, Matt Target and Matty Cash.

Should Aston Villa be interested in commissioning a return for Grealish, they should act quick as some of Europe's elite are circling around him. According to reports, Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund have joined the race for his signature - this is on top of Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle, who are also interested.

Villa have been quite active in the January transfer window so far, splashing around £20 million on Dutch forward Donyell Malen. Plus they may not be short on cash either after rejecting a mammoth £57 million bid from West Ham for striker Jhon Duran.

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