Express & Star

Dean Smith uncertain of Jack Grealish's Aston Villa future despite Premier League survival

Dean Smith admitted he is uncertain whether Jack Grealish will stay at Villa after the skipper scored the goal which kept the club in the Premier League.

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Grealish’s future will top of the agenda when Smith sits down with Villa’s hierarchy today to begin planning in earnest for next season.

The 24-year-old, who has been linked with Manchester United, netted his eighth goal of the season as Villa drew 1-1 at West Ham yesterday to complete their Great Escape from relegation.

Asked what next for Grealish, Smith quipped: “He goes out and gets drunk with me, that’s what happens!”

He added: “I have no idea. I’m certainly hopeful (he will play for Villa again). He is contracted for another three years, I think.

“I have said many times before we have billionaire owners. If people want to come and get our best players they will cost an awful lot of money.

“He is an Aston Villa fan and will be immensely proud he scored the goal today which kept us in the Premier League.”

Villa were seven points adrift with four matches remaining and Smith described staying up as a “magnificent” achievement and better than winning promotion through the play-offs last season.

It was also poignant for Smith, who lost his father Ron at the height of the pandemic.

He said: “I spoke to my family after the game. They all watched it together apart from my son, who is in America at the moment.

“They are immensely proud. It means more than it did last season. It is a huge achievement.

“It has been an emotional period because I lost my father during the pandemic and I have been wearing the Holte Enders in the Sky badge. He will be looking down on us, that is for sure.”

Bournemouth’s 3-1 win over Everton meant Villa needed a point to stay up and Grealish appeared to have secured at least that when he fired home with six minutes remaining.

But Andriy Yarmolenko levelled, courtesy of a huge deflection off Grealish’s boot, just a minute later to ensure a nervy finish.

He said: “To come through what we have come through and get to where we are is an unbelievable achievement for the whole of the group.

“I’m immensely proud of myself, the coaching staff but also all of the players as well.

“We won’t be in this position next season and we knew if we stayed up. Last year we had 10 players out of contract and had to rebuild the squad.”