OPINION
Manuel Pellegrini has many reasons to be watching Robert Snodgrass feature for Aston Villa against Fulham on Saturday, but the West Ham manager should have his eyes fixed on Jack Grealish instead.
Hammers news outlet Claret & Hugh reported that the 64-year-old would be watching Snodgrass as he played in the Championship play-off final for the Villans as the Premier League club would get £1million if Steve Bruce’s side won promotion.
The Hammers would be rewarded with this seven-figure sum as there was a promotion clause written into the loan agreement between the two clubs regarding Snodgrass.
While the 30-year-old winger has dazzled many in his 42 outings for the Villans this season, the Hammers need younger legs in order to start their revolution under Pellegrini.
Therefore while Snodgrass may technically be a Hammers player, the veteran boss must forget about watching him and focus his glare on his Villans teammate Grealish.
The 22-year-old midfielder is the perfect creative playmaker to spearhead a new positive attacking direction for the Hammers and if the Villans are defeated by Fulham, then the Hammers must test his loyalty.
The Birmingham Mail previously claimed that while Grealish wasn’t interested in leaving his boyhood club anytime soon, his representatives know that the midfielder has to start featuring in the Premier League sooner rather than later.
It might be an uphill battle trying to tear the talented creative attacking midfielder away from the Villans, but it’s a fight worth having.
Grealish has flourished this season in the Championship, making 33 appearances and assisting eight goals in his outings.
The 22-year-old has also scored three goals in his current campaign and without him Bruce’s team would have got nowhere near the play-off final.
The Hammers are clearly not just in need of midfielders, their options are currently limited, but also need to find players with an attacking spark capable of getting supporters on their feet.
Grealish ticks both these boxes and more, especially as he is so young and he could be a long-term fixture at the London Stadium.
Therefore Pellegrini should forget about watching Snodgrass on Saturday as the Hammers know what he can offer and have his eyes firmly fixed on Grealish, who would be perfect for a revolution at the club.
